My views/status of characters;
01. Anne
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
02. Dead Man's Party
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
03. Faith, Hope and Trick
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
04. Beauty and the Beasts
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
05. Homecoming
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
06. Band Candy
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
07. Revelations
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
08. Lover's Walk
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
09. The Wish
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
10. Amends
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
11. Gingerbread
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
12. Helpless
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
13. The Zeppo
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
14. Bad Girls
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
15. Consequences
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - absent
16. Doppelgängland
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
17. Enemies
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel/us - neutral
Oz - like
18. Earshot
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
19. Choices
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
20. The Prom
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - like
Oz - like
21. Graduation Day (1)
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - like
Oz - like
22. Graduation Day (2)
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall Ranking
Very Good
Graduation Day part 2
The Wish
Doppelgängland
Band Candy
Helpless
Lovers Walk
Revelations
Good
Graduation Day part 1
Consequences
Choices
The Prom
Bad Girls
Earshot
Amends
Anne
Average
The Zeppo
Faith, Hope, and Trick
Gingerbread
Enemies
Beauty and the Beasts
Homecoming
Poor
Dead Man's Party
Musings on life and other matters.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Graduation Day part 2
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
During their battle, Faith manages to escape from Buffy, so Buffy forces Angel to drink her own blood to rid his body of the poison. With Buffy in a coma, the gang must devise a plan to defeat the Mayor once and for all.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Cordelia: I personally don't think it's possible to come up with a crazier plan.
Oz: We attack the Mayor with hummus.
Cordelia: I stand corrected.
Oz: Just keeping things in perspective.
Good character development, good dialogue and an good plot.
As the Mayor say "This is about change. Endings and new beginnings," for both the characters and for BtVS. It is (basically) the last episode with Cordelia, Wes and Angel in the cast, aside from a couple of cameos from Angel. Sunnydale High gets blown up, so starting next season all new locations. Snyder gets eaten (the second principal to have that happen to). Faith is put in a coma and the Mayor dies. There are a few potentially important blink-and-you'll-miss-them moments that pass very quickly: Larry’s death, Cordelia finally staking a vampire, and Harmony being bitten by a vampire. Thankfully it does not include a long, drawn-out, and teary parting scene between Angel and Buffy.
When Buffy goes to the comatose Faith in the hospital, she kisses her forehead. Something similar happened in "Enemies," at the end of their fight. Faith tells Buffy "What are you gonna do, B, kill me? You become me. You're not ready for that yet!" She then kisses Buffy on the forehead, and runs away. In contrast Buffy's kiss is done in a very sweet and compassionate manner.
Foreshadowing
Faith: "Miles to go. Little Miss Muffet counting down from 7-3-0" - as everyone should know by now references the number of days to go 'till "Buffy vs. Dracula" season 5 and the arrival of Dawn.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
During their battle, Faith manages to escape from Buffy, so Buffy forces Angel to drink her own blood to rid his body of the poison. With Buffy in a coma, the gang must devise a plan to defeat the Mayor once and for all.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Cordelia: I personally don't think it's possible to come up with a crazier plan.
Oz: We attack the Mayor with hummus.
Cordelia: I stand corrected.
Oz: Just keeping things in perspective.
Good character development, good dialogue and an good plot.
As the Mayor say "This is about change. Endings and new beginnings," for both the characters and for BtVS. It is (basically) the last episode with Cordelia, Wes and Angel in the cast, aside from a couple of cameos from Angel. Sunnydale High gets blown up, so starting next season all new locations. Snyder gets eaten (the second principal to have that happen to). Faith is put in a coma and the Mayor dies. There are a few potentially important blink-and-you'll-miss-them moments that pass very quickly: Larry’s death, Cordelia finally staking a vampire, and Harmony being bitten by a vampire. Thankfully it does not include a long, drawn-out, and teary parting scene between Angel and Buffy.
When Buffy goes to the comatose Faith in the hospital, she kisses her forehead. Something similar happened in "Enemies," at the end of their fight. Faith tells Buffy "What are you gonna do, B, kill me? You become me. You're not ready for that yet!" She then kisses Buffy on the forehead, and runs away. In contrast Buffy's kiss is done in a very sweet and compassionate manner.
Foreshadowing
Faith: "Miles to go. Little Miss Muffet counting down from 7-3-0" - as everyone should know by now references the number of days to go 'till "Buffy vs. Dracula" season 5 and the arrival of Dawn.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
Graduation Day part 1
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
The gang receive some valuable information from their old enemy Anya, who has actually witnessed an Ascension. She reveals that the Mayor plans to transform himself into pure demon, something that has not been seen for hundreds of years. When Angel is poisoned by Faith, Buffy faces with Faith in order to get the only cure to the poison: the blood of a Slayer.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Willow: I'm going to miss her.
Buffy: Don't you hate her?
Willow: Yes, with a fiery vengeance. She picked on me for ten years. Vacuous tramp... It's like a sickness, Buffy. I'm missing everything. I miss P.E.!
Good character development, good dialogue and an average plot.
Lots of good individual parts to this but doesn't quite come together as well as part 2.
Lots of big things happening in this episode, with long lasting repercussions. Faith’s chilling cold-blooded murder of Professor Worth is something that would have been almost inconceivable a few episodes ago. Anya’s romantic scene with Xander (“When I think that something could happen to you it feels bad inside, like I might vomit”) is funny. The funniest moment of the episode, though, has to be the scene in the library, when Giles and Xander unfold the illustration of Olvikan ("We're gonna need a bigger boat."). And there’s a genuine atmosphere of menace during the scene when the mayor visits the library. Though you have to hand it to Giles for stabbing the mayor with the sword. Buffy quitting the council, after their refusal to help Angel. It won't be 'till season 5 ("Checkpoint" 5x12) before she rejoins them again because she needs their help with Glory.
Lots of people don't think the ending with her being knocked down before Faith jumps is in character / believable. Buffy's reaction after mortally wounding Faith is reminiscent of the reaction she had when she thought she'd killed Ted. So I don't think its too far out of character for her to lie there stunned for a couple of seconds. I mean how else would we have gotten the villains lasts words?
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
The gang receive some valuable information from their old enemy Anya, who has actually witnessed an Ascension. She reveals that the Mayor plans to transform himself into pure demon, something that has not been seen for hundreds of years. When Angel is poisoned by Faith, Buffy faces with Faith in order to get the only cure to the poison: the blood of a Slayer.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Willow: I'm going to miss her.
Buffy: Don't you hate her?
Willow: Yes, with a fiery vengeance. She picked on me for ten years. Vacuous tramp... It's like a sickness, Buffy. I'm missing everything. I miss P.E.!
Good character development, good dialogue and an average plot.
Lots of good individual parts to this but doesn't quite come together as well as part 2.
Lots of big things happening in this episode, with long lasting repercussions. Faith’s chilling cold-blooded murder of Professor Worth is something that would have been almost inconceivable a few episodes ago. Anya’s romantic scene with Xander (“When I think that something could happen to you it feels bad inside, like I might vomit”) is funny. The funniest moment of the episode, though, has to be the scene in the library, when Giles and Xander unfold the illustration of Olvikan ("We're gonna need a bigger boat."). And there’s a genuine atmosphere of menace during the scene when the mayor visits the library. Though you have to hand it to Giles for stabbing the mayor with the sword. Buffy quitting the council, after their refusal to help Angel. It won't be 'till season 5 ("Checkpoint" 5x12) before she rejoins them again because she needs their help with Glory.
Lots of people don't think the ending with her being knocked down before Faith jumps is in character / believable. Buffy's reaction after mortally wounding Faith is reminiscent of the reaction she had when she thought she'd killed Ted. So I don't think its too far out of character for her to lie there stunned for a couple of seconds. I mean how else would we have gotten the villains lasts words?
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
The Prom
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
The biggest night in High School life is just around the corner, when strange creatures start appearing around town attacking anyone in formalwear. Meanwhile, Angel tells Buffy that he wants her to have a chance at the normal life that he could never give her. He plans to leave Sunnydale after the Ascension. Buffy must put aside her own pain and try to track down the source of the demonic Hellhounds in time to save the Senior Prom.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Anya: The power of the Wish made me a righteous sword to smite the unfaithful.
Xander: Well, hey! Good luck with that. Hope it works out for you.
Anya: You know, you can laugh, but I have witnessed a millennium of treachery and oppression from the males of the species, and I have nothing but contempt for the whole libidinous lot of them.
Xander: Then why you talking to me?
Anya: [averting her eyes] I don't have a date for the prom.
Xander: Well, gosh! I wonder why not. It couldn't possibly have anything to do with your sales pitch?
Anya: Men are evil... Will you go with me?
Xander: One of us is very confused, and I honestly don't know which.
Good character development, good dialogue and an average plot.
A nice breather episode before the finale.
The prom is considered a rite of passage, part of growing up. Buffy in accepting her nature, her responsibility, and the realities of her life shows that she has grown up. It's evident in her acceptance of Angel's decision to leave. And she makes that acceptance clear. First with Willow and later telling Angel, at the prom, that she understands why he's doing what he is. But there are other signs of maturity. Believing her big night has been ruined, Buffy determines that her friends will still get to enjoy their big night. She takes charge. She orders Wesley (to Tucker's house) and Giles (to the prom to watch over the others). And they comply. This is a more mature Buffy in control. And it's only apropos that having given up on her dream of a perfect night, while working to make the night perfect for everyone else, she actually gets her dream fulfilled. The students recognize her help and protection and Angel comes through in the end.
Minor gripe: Joyce’s visit to Angel at the mansion is an odd and bizarre scene that doesn't make much sense. I know what the writers are trying to do here, but it just comes off as awkward. Nevertheless, it’s quite amusing. You can just imagine what went through Joyce’s mind when she saw the manacles.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - like
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
The biggest night in High School life is just around the corner, when strange creatures start appearing around town attacking anyone in formalwear. Meanwhile, Angel tells Buffy that he wants her to have a chance at the normal life that he could never give her. He plans to leave Sunnydale after the Ascension. Buffy must put aside her own pain and try to track down the source of the demonic Hellhounds in time to save the Senior Prom.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Anya: The power of the Wish made me a righteous sword to smite the unfaithful.
Xander: Well, hey! Good luck with that. Hope it works out for you.
Anya: You know, you can laugh, but I have witnessed a millennium of treachery and oppression from the males of the species, and I have nothing but contempt for the whole libidinous lot of them.
Xander: Then why you talking to me?
Anya: [averting her eyes] I don't have a date for the prom.
Xander: Well, gosh! I wonder why not. It couldn't possibly have anything to do with your sales pitch?
Anya: Men are evil... Will you go with me?
Xander: One of us is very confused, and I honestly don't know which.
Good character development, good dialogue and an average plot.
A nice breather episode before the finale.
The prom is considered a rite of passage, part of growing up. Buffy in accepting her nature, her responsibility, and the realities of her life shows that she has grown up. It's evident in her acceptance of Angel's decision to leave. And she makes that acceptance clear. First with Willow and later telling Angel, at the prom, that she understands why he's doing what he is. But there are other signs of maturity. Believing her big night has been ruined, Buffy determines that her friends will still get to enjoy their big night. She takes charge. She orders Wesley (to Tucker's house) and Giles (to the prom to watch over the others). And they comply. This is a more mature Buffy in control. And it's only apropos that having given up on her dream of a perfect night, while working to make the night perfect for everyone else, she actually gets her dream fulfilled. The students recognize her help and protection and Angel comes through in the end.
Minor gripe: Joyce’s visit to Angel at the mansion is an odd and bizarre scene that doesn't make much sense. I know what the writers are trying to do here, but it just comes off as awkward. Nevertheless, it’s quite amusing. You can just imagine what went through Joyce’s mind when she saw the manacles.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - like
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
Choices
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Buffy receives an acceptance to Northwestern University, but what should be a happy surprise turns sour when she realizes that she may not be able to go away to school and still fulfill her duties as the Slayer. Buffy manages to intercept the Box of Gavrok, a container of mystical energy that is vital to the Mayor's Ascension. But when Willow is captured, the gang must decide whether they can give up their best chance at preventing the Ascension to save Willow's life.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Faith: Give me the speech again, please. "Faith, we're still your friends. We can help you. It's not too late."
Willow: It's way too late. You know, it didn't have to be this way. But you made your choice. I know you had a tough life. I know that some people think you had a lot of bad breaks. Well, boo hoo! Poor you! You know, you had a lot more in your life than some people. I mean, you had friends in your life like Buffy. Now you have no one. You were a slayer and now you're nothing. You're just a big, selfish, worthless waste.
[Faith knocks Willow to the ground.]
Faith: You hurt me, I hurt you. I'm just a little more efficient.
Willow: [stands up] Aw, and here I just thought you didn't have a comeback.
Good character development, good dialogue and an average plot.
There is some nice character development in this episode that makes up for the so-so plotting: Willow standing up to Faith; Faith’s unsettling relationship with the Mayor; the Scoobies teaming up against Wesley; and yet more signs that the romance between Buffy and Angel is coming to an end. It’s tempting to echo Wes’s observation that by the end of the episode, "we’ re right back where we started," but that’s not really the case. This episode is the first one to really make full use of the Mayor, and finally brings the big bad face to face with the Slayer, (after a couple of near-misses).
Choices is a good episode for Willow, giving Alyson Hannigan a chance to really shine. There’s also plenty of groundwork laid for next season.
You have to admire the mayor's insight. As evil as he might be, he still has some penetrating insight into what Buffy and Angel's relationship have in store. "You're immortal, she's not. It's not. I married my Edna May in ought-three and I was with her right until the end. Not a pretty picture. Wrinkled and senile and cursing me for my youth. Wasn't our happiest time. And let's not forget the fact that any moment of true happiness will turn you evil. I mean, come on. What kind of a life can you offer her? I don't see a lot of Sunday picnics in the offing. I see skulking in the shadows, hiding from the sun. She's a blossoming young girl and you want to keep her from the life she should have until it has passed her by. My God! I think that's a little selfish. Is that what you came back from Hell for? Is that your greater purpose?" That is all but the final nail in the coffin there in my opinion. Buffy can't/won't see it but Angel knows its the truth.
The moral question raised when Willow gets kidnapped will be coming back to haunt the gang. The Scoobies have the box and can stop the Mayor's accession. Or they can trade it for Willow and risk the lives of everyone in Sunnydale. The argument in the library is nearly perfect. Oz and Xander want Willow back no matter the cost. Wesley argues that they can't surrender the box, they must find another way. Buffy, who just last season sacrificed Angel, no longer sees thing as strictly black and white. She won't even listen to Wesley's arguments. She doesn't want to see any other side, she just wants Willow back. Giles and Angel sort of agree with Wes. Angel, especially, is looking down at the floor as the debate rages and you can almost tell that he thinks Wesley is right... He's just not going to say it because then he'll become the bad guy. Giles might agree with Wes in principle, but he loves Willow. He wants to make the trade.
In the future similar situations like this will arise again and again, but the characters seem to remain fairly persistent in their reactions. Buffy never again sacrifices someone she loves. ("The Gift.") Angel will typically choose the greater good. ("Hole in the World.") Giles will argue with Buffy for a wider perspective. ("Lies My Parents Told Me.") Xander would risk the world rather than Willow. ("Grave.") And good ol' Wes will always make the tough choices, according to his own moral code. ("Sleep Tight.") This time the characters are forced to confront these issues but as will happen in the later episodes there really aren't any clear-cut answers.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Buffy receives an acceptance to Northwestern University, but what should be a happy surprise turns sour when she realizes that she may not be able to go away to school and still fulfill her duties as the Slayer. Buffy manages to intercept the Box of Gavrok, a container of mystical energy that is vital to the Mayor's Ascension. But when Willow is captured, the gang must decide whether they can give up their best chance at preventing the Ascension to save Willow's life.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Faith: Give me the speech again, please. "Faith, we're still your friends. We can help you. It's not too late."
Willow: It's way too late. You know, it didn't have to be this way. But you made your choice. I know you had a tough life. I know that some people think you had a lot of bad breaks. Well, boo hoo! Poor you! You know, you had a lot more in your life than some people. I mean, you had friends in your life like Buffy. Now you have no one. You were a slayer and now you're nothing. You're just a big, selfish, worthless waste.
[Faith knocks Willow to the ground.]
Faith: You hurt me, I hurt you. I'm just a little more efficient.
Willow: [stands up] Aw, and here I just thought you didn't have a comeback.
Good character development, good dialogue and an average plot.
There is some nice character development in this episode that makes up for the so-so plotting: Willow standing up to Faith; Faith’s unsettling relationship with the Mayor; the Scoobies teaming up against Wesley; and yet more signs that the romance between Buffy and Angel is coming to an end. It’s tempting to echo Wes’s observation that by the end of the episode, "we’ re right back where we started," but that’s not really the case. This episode is the first one to really make full use of the Mayor, and finally brings the big bad face to face with the Slayer, (after a couple of near-misses).
Choices is a good episode for Willow, giving Alyson Hannigan a chance to really shine. There’s also plenty of groundwork laid for next season.
You have to admire the mayor's insight. As evil as he might be, he still has some penetrating insight into what Buffy and Angel's relationship have in store. "You're immortal, she's not. It's not. I married my Edna May in ought-three and I was with her right until the end. Not a pretty picture. Wrinkled and senile and cursing me for my youth. Wasn't our happiest time. And let's not forget the fact that any moment of true happiness will turn you evil. I mean, come on. What kind of a life can you offer her? I don't see a lot of Sunday picnics in the offing. I see skulking in the shadows, hiding from the sun. She's a blossoming young girl and you want to keep her from the life she should have until it has passed her by. My God! I think that's a little selfish. Is that what you came back from Hell for? Is that your greater purpose?" That is all but the final nail in the coffin there in my opinion. Buffy can't/won't see it but Angel knows its the truth.
The moral question raised when Willow gets kidnapped will be coming back to haunt the gang. The Scoobies have the box and can stop the Mayor's accession. Or they can trade it for Willow and risk the lives of everyone in Sunnydale. The argument in the library is nearly perfect. Oz and Xander want Willow back no matter the cost. Wesley argues that they can't surrender the box, they must find another way. Buffy, who just last season sacrificed Angel, no longer sees thing as strictly black and white. She won't even listen to Wesley's arguments. She doesn't want to see any other side, she just wants Willow back. Giles and Angel sort of agree with Wes. Angel, especially, is looking down at the floor as the debate rages and you can almost tell that he thinks Wesley is right... He's just not going to say it because then he'll become the bad guy. Giles might agree with Wes in principle, but he loves Willow. He wants to make the trade.
In the future similar situations like this will arise again and again, but the characters seem to remain fairly persistent in their reactions. Buffy never again sacrifices someone she loves. ("The Gift.") Angel will typically choose the greater good. ("Hole in the World.") Giles will argue with Buffy for a wider perspective. ("Lies My Parents Told Me.") Xander would risk the world rather than Willow. ("Grave.") And good ol' Wes will always make the tough choices, according to his own moral code. ("Sleep Tight.") This time the characters are forced to confront these issues but as will happen in the later episodes there really aren't any clear-cut answers.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
Earshot
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
After an encounter with a demon with no mouth, Buffy is infected with the demon's blood and she gains the ability to hear people's thoughts. At first her newfound ability is useful for cheating on schoolwork and eavesdropping on the thoughts of those around her, but when the voices continue to flood her mind, she realizes that she cannot control the power. Amid the chaos, Buffy hears a killer planning a mass murder at the school. Now she must keep herself from going mad long enough to prevent a catastrophe.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Buffy: You had sex with Giles? You had sex with Giles?!
Joyce: It was the candy! We were teenagers!
Buffy: On the hood of a police car?!
Joyce: [goes to leave, glances back] I'll be downstairs. [exits] You feel better!
Buffy: Twice!?
Good character development, great dialogue and an average plot.
"Earshot" is an episode that starts brilliantly before it runs out of steam - Buffy the mind reader! Still, before Buffy is confined to bed with a bad case of sensory overload there’s much to enjoy.
We get to hear that Xander worries that Buffy will discover that he has a one-track mind ("Naked girls! Naked woman! Naked Buffy!"), Willow fears that Buffy will soon know more about the taciturn Oz than she does, and Wesley has his illicit feelings for Cordelia to conceal ("I am a bad, bad man"). Buffy also catches Oz deep in philosophical thought. Cordelia’s shallowness and lack of tact come across beautifully. She has nothing to fear from Buffy’s new ability because she simply blurts out whatever crosses her mind. And lets not forget Giles and Joyce's reactions to Buffy discovering that they slept together are utterly hysterical... "TWICE?!"
The fun stops when the episode switches to the investigation into the "This time tomorrow I’ll kill you all" threat.Thats when it quickly loses momentum. Not too badly, but after a couple of viewings now, that portion seems lackluster. Good secondary character development, but not really inspired.
It seems tragic that here we have Jonathan's cry for help, which goes unanswered. Jonathan swears that he'd never hurt anyone. I like Jonathan a lot. He's a interesting and conflicted character. But knowing what will happen to him in seasons six and seven, this episode seems almost tragic. But then it is a Whedon show.
Minor nitpick: who tries to commits suicide with a rifle that comes broken down in a sniper case?
Foreshadowing
WILLOW We all have fantasies that we're powerful, more respected. Where people pay attention to us.
JONATHAN Uh... maybe.
WILLOW But sometimes the fantasy isn't enough, is it Jonathan? Sometimes we have to make it so people don't ignore us. Make them pay attention. You know what I'm talking about, don't you?
- "Superstar"
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
After an encounter with a demon with no mouth, Buffy is infected with the demon's blood and she gains the ability to hear people's thoughts. At first her newfound ability is useful for cheating on schoolwork and eavesdropping on the thoughts of those around her, but when the voices continue to flood her mind, she realizes that she cannot control the power. Amid the chaos, Buffy hears a killer planning a mass murder at the school. Now she must keep herself from going mad long enough to prevent a catastrophe.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Buffy: You had sex with Giles? You had sex with Giles?!
Joyce: It was the candy! We were teenagers!
Buffy: On the hood of a police car?!
Joyce: [goes to leave, glances back] I'll be downstairs. [exits] You feel better!
Buffy: Twice!?
Good character development, great dialogue and an average plot.
"Earshot" is an episode that starts brilliantly before it runs out of steam - Buffy the mind reader! Still, before Buffy is confined to bed with a bad case of sensory overload there’s much to enjoy.
We get to hear that Xander worries that Buffy will discover that he has a one-track mind ("Naked girls! Naked woman! Naked Buffy!"), Willow fears that Buffy will soon know more about the taciturn Oz than she does, and Wesley has his illicit feelings for Cordelia to conceal ("I am a bad, bad man"). Buffy also catches Oz deep in philosophical thought. Cordelia’s shallowness and lack of tact come across beautifully. She has nothing to fear from Buffy’s new ability because she simply blurts out whatever crosses her mind. And lets not forget Giles and Joyce's reactions to Buffy discovering that they slept together are utterly hysterical... "TWICE?!"
The fun stops when the episode switches to the investigation into the "This time tomorrow I’ll kill you all" threat.Thats when it quickly loses momentum. Not too badly, but after a couple of viewings now, that portion seems lackluster. Good secondary character development, but not really inspired.
It seems tragic that here we have Jonathan's cry for help, which goes unanswered. Jonathan swears that he'd never hurt anyone. I like Jonathan a lot. He's a interesting and conflicted character. But knowing what will happen to him in seasons six and seven, this episode seems almost tragic. But then it is a Whedon show.
Minor nitpick: who tries to commits suicide with a rifle that comes broken down in a sniper case?
Foreshadowing
WILLOW We all have fantasies that we're powerful, more respected. Where people pay attention to us.
JONATHAN Uh... maybe.
WILLOW But sometimes the fantasy isn't enough, is it Jonathan? Sometimes we have to make it so people don't ignore us. Make them pay attention. You know what I'm talking about, don't you?
- "Superstar"
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Enemies
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
As a part of her new alliance with the Mayor, Faith tries to seduce Angel so that he will again lose his soul. When that fails, the Mayor summons a powerful demon to remove Angel's soul with dark magic.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
MAYOR: There's more than one way to skin a cat. And I happen to know that's factually true.
Average character development, average dialogue and a poor plot.
Faith and the Mayor, now that they're working together have all sorts of good ideas to ruin Buffy's life. First off, they snatch the Books of Accession from right under her nose. Then they begin a plan to steal Angel's soul. Faith tries to seduce him, and Angel turns her down. So the Mayor enlists the help of some blue demon guy to use magic and take the soul by force. Faith splashes Angel with blood(?) and suddenly he's Angelus again. The two of them head off to meet with the Mayor.
Meanwhile the Scoobies are investigating the Mayor. It turns out that he's been around Sunnydale for over a hundred years. And Buffy is getting jealous of the time that Faith is spending with Angel. When Faith and Angel show up at her house, claiming to have found the Books of Ascension, she agrees to go with them to Angel's mansion to collect them. Once there, Angel and Faith quickly capture her and chain her to the wall. Faith admits that she working for the Mayor and taunts Buffy that the Mayor will take over Sunnydale come Graduation Day. Then, Buffy and Angel turn the tables on her. It seems that Angel was only pretending to be Angel/us so he could learn more about Faith's plan. He and Buffy fight Faith, but she escapes. The Scoobies begin the count down to Graduation Day, while The Mayor comforts Faith over the loss of her former friends. Buffy and Angel take a 'break.'
Even with the fake out there are still some really good segments in this episode. It brings Angel/us back (sort of) which is always good. You gotta love the Mayor consoling Faith at the end of the episode, after Angel tricked her and the Scoobies learned that she's fighting on the Darkside. "Are you still unhappy? Well, I have two words that will fix everything: Miniature Golf." Mostly, though, this episode brings Faith's character into much clearer focus. Her resentment towards Buffy and her fear that she'll never be good enough. Her willingness to follow the Mayor solely because of her need to belong. Her shame at turning into a killer and then her unwillingness to turn back. It's all good.
Questionable mythology. Faith doesn't need to keep Buffy alive to prevent another Slayer from being called. She is Buffy's replacement (indirectly through Kendra). Faith needs to die for a new Slayer to be called. Otherwise there would have been three Slayers in season six.
Foreshadowing
Angel: ... All of our time together and we never tried chains. Well, can't dwell on the past, especially with the future we have ahead.
Buffy and Spike in season 6
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel/us - like
Oz - like
Overall I consider this an average episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
As a part of her new alliance with the Mayor, Faith tries to seduce Angel so that he will again lose his soul. When that fails, the Mayor summons a powerful demon to remove Angel's soul with dark magic.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
MAYOR: There's more than one way to skin a cat. And I happen to know that's factually true.
Average character development, average dialogue and a poor plot.
Faith and the Mayor, now that they're working together have all sorts of good ideas to ruin Buffy's life. First off, they snatch the Books of Accession from right under her nose. Then they begin a plan to steal Angel's soul. Faith tries to seduce him, and Angel turns her down. So the Mayor enlists the help of some blue demon guy to use magic and take the soul by force. Faith splashes Angel with blood(?) and suddenly he's Angelus again. The two of them head off to meet with the Mayor.
Meanwhile the Scoobies are investigating the Mayor. It turns out that he's been around Sunnydale for over a hundred years. And Buffy is getting jealous of the time that Faith is spending with Angel. When Faith and Angel show up at her house, claiming to have found the Books of Ascension, she agrees to go with them to Angel's mansion to collect them. Once there, Angel and Faith quickly capture her and chain her to the wall. Faith admits that she working for the Mayor and taunts Buffy that the Mayor will take over Sunnydale come Graduation Day. Then, Buffy and Angel turn the tables on her. It seems that Angel was only pretending to be Angel/us so he could learn more about Faith's plan. He and Buffy fight Faith, but she escapes. The Scoobies begin the count down to Graduation Day, while The Mayor comforts Faith over the loss of her former friends. Buffy and Angel take a 'break.'
Even with the fake out there are still some really good segments in this episode. It brings Angel/us back (sort of) which is always good. You gotta love the Mayor consoling Faith at the end of the episode, after Angel tricked her and the Scoobies learned that she's fighting on the Darkside. "Are you still unhappy? Well, I have two words that will fix everything: Miniature Golf." Mostly, though, this episode brings Faith's character into much clearer focus. Her resentment towards Buffy and her fear that she'll never be good enough. Her willingness to follow the Mayor solely because of her need to belong. Her shame at turning into a killer and then her unwillingness to turn back. It's all good.
Questionable mythology. Faith doesn't need to keep Buffy alive to prevent another Slayer from being called. She is Buffy's replacement (indirectly through Kendra). Faith needs to die for a new Slayer to be called. Otherwise there would have been three Slayers in season six.
Foreshadowing
Angel: ... All of our time together and we never tried chains. Well, can't dwell on the past, especially with the future we have ahead.
Buffy and Spike in season 6
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel/us - like
Oz - like
Overall I consider this an average episode compared to the rest of the season.
Doppelgängland
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Anya convinces an unsuspecting Willow to assist her with a spell that
will return her amulet and, with it, her Vengeance Demon powers. Willow, sensing something wrong with the magic, balks at the last minute and disrupts the spell. Instead of returning the amulet, the spell summons the vampire Willow from the alternate universe in "The Wish" and sets her loose in Sunnydale.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
WILLOW: It's really nice that you guys missed me. Say, you all didn't happen to do a bunch of drugs, did ya?
Great character development, great dialogue and a good plot.
"Doppelgängland" is a success because of Willow. She's just wonderful. There are really four different incarnations of Willow in this episode and all of them are an absolute joy to watch. Vampire Willow, Real Willow, Real Willow pretending to be Vampire Willow and Vampire Willow pretending to be Real Willow. But, it's pretty easy to tell them apart, because of the way that they act. Vampire Willow beats up just about everyone she meets. Real Willow tapes "Biography" every night. Real Willow is uncomfortable in Vampire Willow's leather and platform boots. Vampire Willow cringes at Real Willow's fuzzy pink sweater. "This is like a nightmare." But then Angel insinuates that a person's vampire self is actually influenced by their human personality. Nice to know.
First appearance of D'Hoffryn,
Foreshadowing
Willow: It's horrible! That's me as a vampire? I'm so evil and...skanky. And I think I'm kinda gay.
Buffy: Willow, just remember, a vampire's personality has nothing to do with the person it was.
Angel: Well, actually... [Buffy gives him a look] That's a good point.
- season 4 (gay) & 6 (evil)
vamp!Willow repeatedly uses the phrase "bored now."
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Anya convinces an unsuspecting Willow to assist her with a spell that
will return her amulet and, with it, her Vengeance Demon powers. Willow, sensing something wrong with the magic, balks at the last minute and disrupts the spell. Instead of returning the amulet, the spell summons the vampire Willow from the alternate universe in "The Wish" and sets her loose in Sunnydale.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
WILLOW: It's really nice that you guys missed me. Say, you all didn't happen to do a bunch of drugs, did ya?
Great character development, great dialogue and a good plot.
"Doppelgängland" is a success because of Willow. She's just wonderful. There are really four different incarnations of Willow in this episode and all of them are an absolute joy to watch. Vampire Willow, Real Willow, Real Willow pretending to be Vampire Willow and Vampire Willow pretending to be Real Willow. But, it's pretty easy to tell them apart, because of the way that they act. Vampire Willow beats up just about everyone she meets. Real Willow tapes "Biography" every night. Real Willow is uncomfortable in Vampire Willow's leather and platform boots. Vampire Willow cringes at Real Willow's fuzzy pink sweater. "This is like a nightmare." But then Angel insinuates that a person's vampire self is actually influenced by their human personality. Nice to know.
First appearance of D'Hoffryn,
Foreshadowing
Willow: It's horrible! That's me as a vampire? I'm so evil and...skanky. And I think I'm kinda gay.
Buffy: Willow, just remember, a vampire's personality has nothing to do with the person it was.
Angel: Well, actually... [Buffy gives him a look] That's a good point.
- season 4 (gay) & 6 (evil)
vamp!Willow repeatedly uses the phrase "bored now."
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
Consequences
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
When Faith refuses to face up to the consequences of her actions, Buffy tries to get help from Giles and Angel. When Xander goes to confront Faith alone, however, he may be biting off more than he can chew.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
FAITH: You sent your boy to kill me.
MAYOR: That's right, I did.
FAITH: He's dust.
MAYOR: I thought he might be. What with you standing here and all.
FAITH: I guess that means you have a job opening.
Great character development, good dialogue and a good plot.
Really the second part of a two parter with Bad Girls.
The consequences of our actions really sometimes suck. The big one Faith killing Finch. Then there's Faith and Buffy lying about Finch's death, Faith then lying about who killed Finch, Buffy and Giles excluding Wesley from dealing with Faith, Xander's quickie with Faith and the gang finding out about it. Pretty long list there, and all of it is addressed in this episode. Unfortunately as I said before the consequences can sometimes be truly bad.
This marks the first of several times that Wesley does what he feels is right, regardless of the results. He follows his own moral compass and even if you don't always agree with him, at least you understand his thinking on the matter. He's supposed to be Faith's Watcher, but Giles and Buffy are deliberately excluding him. They're keeping pertinent information from him and, what's more, they could be endangering other people by hiding Faith's crime. She nearly strangles Xander, after all. Wesley doesn't know the Scoobies and they don't know him. Why would he just allow them to undermine his authority and disobey Council rules? Even Willow sort of agrees with Wesley's point of view. He shows more backbone here than he did last week. He confronts Angel head on and owns up to his mistake to Giles and the gang, then offers to help.
Why do people have such a hard time disposing bodies in the Buffyverse? Faith dumps Alan's body and it pops back up again. Spike has the exact same problem in season six's "Dead Things."
Side note this is the 3rd murder investigation Buffy's been in over the last 2 years.
Foreshadowing
Angel trying to redeem Faith - AtS 5x5
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - absent
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
When Faith refuses to face up to the consequences of her actions, Buffy tries to get help from Giles and Angel. When Xander goes to confront Faith alone, however, he may be biting off more than he can chew.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
FAITH: You sent your boy to kill me.
MAYOR: That's right, I did.
FAITH: He's dust.
MAYOR: I thought he might be. What with you standing here and all.
FAITH: I guess that means you have a job opening.
Great character development, good dialogue and a good plot.
Really the second part of a two parter with Bad Girls.
The consequences of our actions really sometimes suck. The big one Faith killing Finch. Then there's Faith and Buffy lying about Finch's death, Faith then lying about who killed Finch, Buffy and Giles excluding Wesley from dealing with Faith, Xander's quickie with Faith and the gang finding out about it. Pretty long list there, and all of it is addressed in this episode. Unfortunately as I said before the consequences can sometimes be truly bad.
This marks the first of several times that Wesley does what he feels is right, regardless of the results. He follows his own moral compass and even if you don't always agree with him, at least you understand his thinking on the matter. He's supposed to be Faith's Watcher, but Giles and Buffy are deliberately excluding him. They're keeping pertinent information from him and, what's more, they could be endangering other people by hiding Faith's crime. She nearly strangles Xander, after all. Wesley doesn't know the Scoobies and they don't know him. Why would he just allow them to undermine his authority and disobey Council rules? Even Willow sort of agrees with Wesley's point of view. He shows more backbone here than he did last week. He confronts Angel head on and owns up to his mistake to Giles and the gang, then offers to help.
Why do people have such a hard time disposing bodies in the Buffyverse? Faith dumps Alan's body and it pops back up again. Spike has the exact same problem in season six's "Dead Things."
Side note this is the 3rd murder investigation Buffy's been in over the last 2 years.
Foreshadowing
Angel trying to redeem Faith - AtS 5x5
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - absent
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
Bad Girls
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
While on a mission to retrieve an amulet before a powerful demon can use it to restore his strength, Faith introduces Buffy to her reckless method of slaying which leaves Buffy wanting more of the wild life. Meanwhile Giles is trying to keep his cool in front of the insufferably stuffy new watcher, Wesley Wyndam-Pryce.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Buffy: Faith, you can shut off all the emotions that you want. But eventually, they're gonna find a body.
Faith: Okay, this is the last time we're gonna have this conversation, and we're not even having it now, you understand me? There is no body. I took it, weighted it, and dumped it. The body doesn't exist.
Buffy: Getting rid of the evidence doesn't make the problem go away.
Faith: It does for me.
Buffy: Faith, you don't get it - you killed a man.
Faith: No, you don't get it - I don't care!
Great character development, average dialogue and a not so good plot.
Really the first part of a two parter with Consequences. That is in part why I would consider this an above average episode. Without the follow up episode this would only be average at best.
The episode itself revolves around Buffy's growing affinity with Faith. The two of them are bonding and slaying and breaking rules and having fun. Being super powered has it's benefits and Buffy is enjoying her walk on the wild side. At the same time, Wesley arrives to serve as Faith and Buffy's new watcher. Faith pretty much ignores him and Buffy's loyalty is still with Giles, so there's conflict. When a demon named Balthazar and his minions start rising in Sunnydale, Buffy and Faith set out to stop them. Unfortunately, things start going wrong. First they're arrested and have to escape from a police car. Then Giles and Wesley are captured by Balthazar. And, finally Faith accidentally kills the Deputy Mayor, Alan.
The death of the Deputy Mayor is a pivotal event in the season. It changes Faith and sets her on the path to the Darkside. While slaying, Faith recklessly stakes Alan, thinking that he's a vampire. Slayer's aren't supposed to kill humans. Buffy panics. Faith stares at the body in shock. And neither one of them know what to do. After this Buffy will try to reclaim her own life and reconnect to the Scoobies. But Faith, takes Alan's death as further proof of her "badness," begins her spiral out of control. The Mayor's plan is also moving into high gear as he completes the first step of his ascension and becomes invincible.
Faith has a lot of issues. Her nagging Buffy about Xander in the opening scene is probably an attempt on her part to feel better about her quickie with him. If Buffy had done it, then it wouldn't have been so bad. Buffy never quite figures this out, though she gets a hint when Xander keeps twitching whenever she mentions Faith's name. Faith continues to try to justify her actions through Buffy. She gets Buffy to play hooky. She gets her to admit that she does get a sexual charge out of slaying. She gets her to commit a robbery and to escape from the police.
But every time Buffy is away from Faith, that influence weakens. When Buffy sees the consequences of their action, it weakens even further. In the Bronze, at first she is very physical with Angel, but soon she turns to business. When the policemen are hurt, Buffy is really upset. It's more the threat of Balthazar than the influence of Faith that gets her to leave them. But the death of Allan is the final straw. Faith and Buffy go their separate ways, literally and metaphorically. When Buffy goes back for Balthazar, she does so with Angel not Faith.
Note the Wesley we meet in "Bad Girls" is the Wesley who's never had a place to belong. Insecure and anxious to please his Uber-Watcher father, this Wes is still trying to figure out who he is. He's never lived in the "real" world before and he's used to being not-quite-good enough. The real Wesley, who emerges over on "Angel," is just about the hardest person in the entire Buffyverse. He's the pragmatic one who makes the really tough calls, who fights the wrong battles for the right reasons and who, occasionally, even scares Angel with his ruthlessness. (You couldn't tell that I love Wesleys story arc from the previous statement, could you?)
When Buffy is attacked by the vampire while in the graveyard, Faith stakes it from behind. She does this again with Trick at the end of the episode. Faith will do this again in Season 4's "Who Are You."
First appearance of Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
Foreshadowing
Buffy: Xander, Why does your eye twitch every time I mention Faith?
Then Xander covering up his left eye - season 7
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
While on a mission to retrieve an amulet before a powerful demon can use it to restore his strength, Faith introduces Buffy to her reckless method of slaying which leaves Buffy wanting more of the wild life. Meanwhile Giles is trying to keep his cool in front of the insufferably stuffy new watcher, Wesley Wyndam-Pryce.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Buffy: Faith, you can shut off all the emotions that you want. But eventually, they're gonna find a body.
Faith: Okay, this is the last time we're gonna have this conversation, and we're not even having it now, you understand me? There is no body. I took it, weighted it, and dumped it. The body doesn't exist.
Buffy: Getting rid of the evidence doesn't make the problem go away.
Faith: It does for me.
Buffy: Faith, you don't get it - you killed a man.
Faith: No, you don't get it - I don't care!
Great character development, average dialogue and a not so good plot.
Really the first part of a two parter with Consequences. That is in part why I would consider this an above average episode. Without the follow up episode this would only be average at best.
The episode itself revolves around Buffy's growing affinity with Faith. The two of them are bonding and slaying and breaking rules and having fun. Being super powered has it's benefits and Buffy is enjoying her walk on the wild side. At the same time, Wesley arrives to serve as Faith and Buffy's new watcher. Faith pretty much ignores him and Buffy's loyalty is still with Giles, so there's conflict. When a demon named Balthazar and his minions start rising in Sunnydale, Buffy and Faith set out to stop them. Unfortunately, things start going wrong. First they're arrested and have to escape from a police car. Then Giles and Wesley are captured by Balthazar. And, finally Faith accidentally kills the Deputy Mayor, Alan.
The death of the Deputy Mayor is a pivotal event in the season. It changes Faith and sets her on the path to the Darkside. While slaying, Faith recklessly stakes Alan, thinking that he's a vampire. Slayer's aren't supposed to kill humans. Buffy panics. Faith stares at the body in shock. And neither one of them know what to do. After this Buffy will try to reclaim her own life and reconnect to the Scoobies. But Faith, takes Alan's death as further proof of her "badness," begins her spiral out of control. The Mayor's plan is also moving into high gear as he completes the first step of his ascension and becomes invincible.
Faith has a lot of issues. Her nagging Buffy about Xander in the opening scene is probably an attempt on her part to feel better about her quickie with him. If Buffy had done it, then it wouldn't have been so bad. Buffy never quite figures this out, though she gets a hint when Xander keeps twitching whenever she mentions Faith's name. Faith continues to try to justify her actions through Buffy. She gets Buffy to play hooky. She gets her to admit that she does get a sexual charge out of slaying. She gets her to commit a robbery and to escape from the police.
But every time Buffy is away from Faith, that influence weakens. When Buffy sees the consequences of their action, it weakens even further. In the Bronze, at first she is very physical with Angel, but soon she turns to business. When the policemen are hurt, Buffy is really upset. It's more the threat of Balthazar than the influence of Faith that gets her to leave them. But the death of Allan is the final straw. Faith and Buffy go their separate ways, literally and metaphorically. When Buffy goes back for Balthazar, she does so with Angel not Faith.
Note the Wesley we meet in "Bad Girls" is the Wesley who's never had a place to belong. Insecure and anxious to please his Uber-Watcher father, this Wes is still trying to figure out who he is. He's never lived in the "real" world before and he's used to being not-quite-good enough. The real Wesley, who emerges over on "Angel," is just about the hardest person in the entire Buffyverse. He's the pragmatic one who makes the really tough calls, who fights the wrong battles for the right reasons and who, occasionally, even scares Angel with his ruthlessness. (You couldn't tell that I love Wesleys story arc from the previous statement, could you?)
When Buffy is attacked by the vampire while in the graveyard, Faith stakes it from behind. She does this again with Trick at the end of the episode. Faith will do this again in Season 4's "Who Are You."
First appearance of Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
Foreshadowing
Buffy: Xander, Why does your eye twitch every time I mention Faith?
Then Xander covering up his left eye - season 7
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
The Zeppo
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
When Xander realizes that he isn't needed by the gang as much as he'd like to believe, his quest to prove he's cool leads him to an unforgettable night that finds him consorting with fast women, raising the dead and rolling with a dangerous crowd that could put Sunnydale in a world of hurt. Meanwhile, Buffy, Giles and the rest of the crew engage in a furious battle with the Sisterhood of Jhe, an all-female demon apocalypse cult that intends to reopen the Hellmouth and bring about the end of the world.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Good character development, OK dialogue and OK plot.
Yep, its another apocalypse in Sunnydale. The Hellmouth is opening again, and this time Xander isn't invited. Instead of focusing on this seemingly important event, one which would form the backbone for any standard episode, we are treated to a parallel story, and given a good view into Xander's character. The Hellmouth story is almost entirely incidental, and this episode could have been more powerful if Xander had been the only person having an unusual night.
As Cordelia, ever watchful for a back to stick a knife into, is quick to point out, Xander has been neglected of late, and lacks the supernatural powers of his colleagues - Willow/witch, Oz/werewolf, and Buffy/slayer. (Note, that Cordelia conveniently forgets to include herself!) It's interesting to note that it's not merely Xander's ability to handle Jack O'Toole and his zombie pals that's being tested: it's his ability to handle them on his own.
Several times during the night Xander encounters friends who would be able to help him, (Giles at the Restfield Cemetery, Willow outside the magic store and Faith after her battle with one of the Jhe demons). He has plenty of opportunity to ask for assistance, but he doesn't, and his character grows stronger because of it. Of course, during his hot and sweaty tussle with Faith he probably had other things on his mind...
Once Faith kicks Xander out, he starts doing things by himself. He knows that he doesn't have the strength to defeat Jack. But he can beat him by having more courage. Echoing their meeting at the Bronze, Xander says it all comes down to who has less fear. And he wins. Xander realizes that there is something special about him. That despite being an ordinary mortal, he can still be brave and heroic.
When Jack asks Xander whether he's ready to die, Xander replies he likes the quiet. The next day when Willow and Buffy tell him he was lucky not to be at the school, he says he likes the quiet life. When Cordelia confronts him, he is quiet. Xander has learned to be happy with who and what he is. He doesn't need super powers to confront the monsters in his life. Simple mortality has its advantages. In Helpless (18), Buffy learned that she was the Slayer with or without her power. That being the slayer is more than being physically strong. Xander has finally learned that being cool is more than having powers, playing the guitar, or driving a vintage car. Learning that, he finally discovers cool.
Foreshadowing
Buffy: Xander, one of these days, you're gonna get yourself hurt. - season 7
Faith steals a long green compound bow, commenting that "this could be my new thing". Although her attempts to use it in this episode are inept she does get better. - Graduation Day pt. 2
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a average episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
When Xander realizes that he isn't needed by the gang as much as he'd like to believe, his quest to prove he's cool leads him to an unforgettable night that finds him consorting with fast women, raising the dead and rolling with a dangerous crowd that could put Sunnydale in a world of hurt. Meanwhile, Buffy, Giles and the rest of the crew engage in a furious battle with the Sisterhood of Jhe, an all-female demon apocalypse cult that intends to reopen the Hellmouth and bring about the end of the world.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
| XANDER: | I mean, you yourself, Oz, are considered more or less cool. Why is that? |
| OZ: | Am I? |
| XANDER: | Is it about the talking? You know, the way you tend to express yourself in short, noncommittal phrases? |
| OZ: | Could be. |
| XANDER: | I know! You're in a band! That's like a business-class ticket to cool with complementary mojo after takeoff! I gotta learn an instrument. Is it hard to play guitar? |
| OZ: | Not the way I play it. |
Yep, its another apocalypse in Sunnydale. The Hellmouth is opening again, and this time Xander isn't invited. Instead of focusing on this seemingly important event, one which would form the backbone for any standard episode, we are treated to a parallel story, and given a good view into Xander's character. The Hellmouth story is almost entirely incidental, and this episode could have been more powerful if Xander had been the only person having an unusual night.
As Cordelia, ever watchful for a back to stick a knife into, is quick to point out, Xander has been neglected of late, and lacks the supernatural powers of his colleagues - Willow/witch, Oz/werewolf, and Buffy/slayer. (Note, that Cordelia conveniently forgets to include herself!) It's interesting to note that it's not merely Xander's ability to handle Jack O'Toole and his zombie pals that's being tested: it's his ability to handle them on his own.
Several times during the night Xander encounters friends who would be able to help him, (Giles at the Restfield Cemetery, Willow outside the magic store and Faith after her battle with one of the Jhe demons). He has plenty of opportunity to ask for assistance, but he doesn't, and his character grows stronger because of it. Of course, during his hot and sweaty tussle with Faith he probably had other things on his mind...
Once Faith kicks Xander out, he starts doing things by himself. He knows that he doesn't have the strength to defeat Jack. But he can beat him by having more courage. Echoing their meeting at the Bronze, Xander says it all comes down to who has less fear. And he wins. Xander realizes that there is something special about him. That despite being an ordinary mortal, he can still be brave and heroic.
When Jack asks Xander whether he's ready to die, Xander replies he likes the quiet. The next day when Willow and Buffy tell him he was lucky not to be at the school, he says he likes the quiet life. When Cordelia confronts him, he is quiet. Xander has learned to be happy with who and what he is. He doesn't need super powers to confront the monsters in his life. Simple mortality has its advantages. In Helpless (18), Buffy learned that she was the Slayer with or without her power. That being the slayer is more than being physically strong. Xander has finally learned that being cool is more than having powers, playing the guitar, or driving a vintage car. Learning that, he finally discovers cool.
Foreshadowing
Buffy: Xander, one of these days, you're gonna get yourself hurt. - season 7
Faith steals a long green compound bow, commenting that "this could be my new thing". Although her attempts to use it in this episode are inept she does get better. - Graduation Day pt. 2
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a average episode compared to the rest of the season.
Helpless (18)
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
For her upcoming 18th birthday, Buffy declines the Scooby gang's offer of a big party, hoping to celebrate with quiet reflection and a traditional trip to the ice show with her father. Suddenly, Buffy finds that her Slayer abilities are fading, perhaps completely. Is this some natural event in the life cycle of the Slayer, or is it something more sinister?
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Buffy: Wow! That was really funny looking! Could you do it again?
Vampire: I'll kill you for that.
Buffy: For that? What were you going to kill me for before?
Great character development, good dialogue and a good plot with some minor holes.
We all fear the diminishment or loss of our abilities, but Buffy, who relies on hers to not only carry out her Slayer duties, but also more importantly to keep her alive, must fear it very deeply. That's the basis of David Fury's story, which also tests the limits of Buffy's increasingly father-daughter relationship with Giles in some heart-wrenching scenes. Giles betrays Buffy in this episode, and seriously endangers the life of his charge in order to placate the Council.
We have these sequence of events with Giles. First, Buffy tries to get him to go to the ice show with her. Clearly, she looks to him as a father substitute. Then Buffy angrily rejects him when she learns what he has done. She is shocked because deep down she has always felt Giles loved her, as a parent does. Both of her fathers have let her down. Her real father by failing to take her to the annual ice show and Giles by his betrayal. In both cases, they put their jobs above her needs and desires. But ultimately, she discovers she was right about Giles. She realizes that he was following the councils orders. In the end, he cares more for her than his job as watcher, the council's orders, or the whole concept of the slayer. He lays it, and his life, on the line. And he loses his job for it, but he seems more concerned with Buffy than with that. She doesn't need Travers to tell her that Giles has a father's love for her. He has proven that with his actions. It seems that has finally lived up to his rebel youth. He defies the council, finding his own strength. He manages to convince Buffy of his true feelings for her, the most important thing to him at the time.
One of the few horror genre episodes that was actually very good.
Recurring Character: Quentin Travers, leader of the Watchers Council, is seen for the first time.
The fourth appearance of the sad/depressed overalls.
Inconsistent mythology: when Blair gets bitten, he rises as a vamp the same night. I thought the mythology had established it as the third night before a vamp rises.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
For her upcoming 18th birthday, Buffy declines the Scooby gang's offer of a big party, hoping to celebrate with quiet reflection and a traditional trip to the ice show with her father. Suddenly, Buffy finds that her Slayer abilities are fading, perhaps completely. Is this some natural event in the life cycle of the Slayer, or is it something more sinister?
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Buffy: Wow! That was really funny looking! Could you do it again?
Vampire: I'll kill you for that.
Buffy: For that? What were you going to kill me for before?
Great character development, good dialogue and a good plot with some minor holes.
We all fear the diminishment or loss of our abilities, but Buffy, who relies on hers to not only carry out her Slayer duties, but also more importantly to keep her alive, must fear it very deeply. That's the basis of David Fury's story, which also tests the limits of Buffy's increasingly father-daughter relationship with Giles in some heart-wrenching scenes. Giles betrays Buffy in this episode, and seriously endangers the life of his charge in order to placate the Council.
We have these sequence of events with Giles. First, Buffy tries to get him to go to the ice show with her. Clearly, she looks to him as a father substitute. Then Buffy angrily rejects him when she learns what he has done. She is shocked because deep down she has always felt Giles loved her, as a parent does. Both of her fathers have let her down. Her real father by failing to take her to the annual ice show and Giles by his betrayal. In both cases, they put their jobs above her needs and desires. But ultimately, she discovers she was right about Giles. She realizes that he was following the councils orders. In the end, he cares more for her than his job as watcher, the council's orders, or the whole concept of the slayer. He lays it, and his life, on the line. And he loses his job for it, but he seems more concerned with Buffy than with that. She doesn't need Travers to tell her that Giles has a father's love for her. He has proven that with his actions. It seems that has finally lived up to his rebel youth. He defies the council, finding his own strength. He manages to convince Buffy of his true feelings for her, the most important thing to him at the time.
One of the few horror genre episodes that was actually very good.
Recurring Character: Quentin Travers, leader of the Watchers Council, is seen for the first time.
The fourth appearance of the sad/depressed overalls.
Inconsistent mythology: when Blair gets bitten, he rises as a vamp the same night. I thought the mythology had established it as the third night before a vamp rises.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Gingerbread
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Picking the wrong night for mother-daughter bonding, Joyce discovers the bodies of two children in the park, apparently sacrificed in an occult ritual. Deeply disturbed by what she has seen, Joyce rallies the adults of Sunnydale, convincing them to rid the town of all magical and occult influences. Soon, however, it becomes apparent that Buffy, Willow, and Amy are themselves considered a part of the occult threat to Sunnydale.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Cordelia: I came by to tell Buffy to stop all of this craziness and found you all unconscious ... again. How many times have you been knocked out, anyway? I swear, one of these times, you're gonna wake up in a coma.
Giles: Wake up in a co... ? Oh, never mind. We need to save Buffy from Hansel and Gretel.
Cordelia: Now, let's be clear. The brain damage happened before I hit you.
Good character development, average dialogue and a so-so plot.
We see the distinction between the child and adult perspective on evil and how you deal with it, in this episode. For the kids, evil is done by monsters. The solution is simple, kill the monsters. That's the perspective we've seen on Buffy 'till now. Buffy makes this point when Giles tells her the killings were probably committed by a cult, by humans. She finds it hard to believe that something with a soul committed such a terrible crime. In the end, she turns out to be right, but she is revealing a certain narrow minded blindness. A casual glance at the newspaper or a history book reveals that humans (souls or not) are capable of some really vile acts.
The adult perspective is different. There are no demons and humans are capable of anything. Problems are not resolved by direct confrontation, slaying monsters, but by creating controlling structures like laws. Joyce tells Buffy that her slaying isn't accomplishing anything. Regardless of the fact that Buffy has saved people's lives and the whole world twice over. But for Joyce accomplishment means the elimination of the problem, not merely dealing with instances of it. Joyce plans to eliminate the problem by changing the rules. First, all the civil rights people have are set aside. We get illegal searches, seizure of private property without cause or compensation, censorship, the immediate assumption of guilt without the right to confront your accusers, and ultimately punishment without trial. This allows for much quicker and surer justice. Any mistakes along the way are just the price for creating a safer, more secure world.
But at the end of the episode we're left with humans are essentially good, demons are essentially evil. So terrible crimes are committed by demons, not by humans.
Although and average episode, it really had quite a few burst out laughing moments.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this an average episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Picking the wrong night for mother-daughter bonding, Joyce discovers the bodies of two children in the park, apparently sacrificed in an occult ritual. Deeply disturbed by what she has seen, Joyce rallies the adults of Sunnydale, convincing them to rid the town of all magical and occult influences. Soon, however, it becomes apparent that Buffy, Willow, and Amy are themselves considered a part of the occult threat to Sunnydale.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Cordelia: I came by to tell Buffy to stop all of this craziness and found you all unconscious ... again. How many times have you been knocked out, anyway? I swear, one of these times, you're gonna wake up in a coma.
Giles: Wake up in a co... ? Oh, never mind. We need to save Buffy from Hansel and Gretel.
Cordelia: Now, let's be clear. The brain damage happened before I hit you.
Good character development, average dialogue and a so-so plot.
We see the distinction between the child and adult perspective on evil and how you deal with it, in this episode. For the kids, evil is done by monsters. The solution is simple, kill the monsters. That's the perspective we've seen on Buffy 'till now. Buffy makes this point when Giles tells her the killings were probably committed by a cult, by humans. She finds it hard to believe that something with a soul committed such a terrible crime. In the end, she turns out to be right, but she is revealing a certain narrow minded blindness. A casual glance at the newspaper or a history book reveals that humans (souls or not) are capable of some really vile acts.
The adult perspective is different. There are no demons and humans are capable of anything. Problems are not resolved by direct confrontation, slaying monsters, but by creating controlling structures like laws. Joyce tells Buffy that her slaying isn't accomplishing anything. Regardless of the fact that Buffy has saved people's lives and the whole world twice over. But for Joyce accomplishment means the elimination of the problem, not merely dealing with instances of it. Joyce plans to eliminate the problem by changing the rules. First, all the civil rights people have are set aside. We get illegal searches, seizure of private property without cause or compensation, censorship, the immediate assumption of guilt without the right to confront your accusers, and ultimately punishment without trial. This allows for much quicker and surer justice. Any mistakes along the way are just the price for creating a safer, more secure world.
But at the end of the episode we're left with humans are essentially good, demons are essentially evil. So terrible crimes are committed by demons, not by humans.
Although and average episode, it really had quite a few burst out laughing moments.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this an average episode compared to the rest of the season.
Amends
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
While the gang prepares for their Christmas vacation, Angel is haunted by visions of his violent past. The ghost of Jenny Calendar appears to him and reminds him in great detail of the evil deeds he has performed. At first she almost seems to be taking pity on him, but gradually her counsel grows more sinister.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Buffy: Strong is fighting! It's hard, and it's painful, and it's every day. It's what we have to do. And we can do it together. But if you're too much of a coward for that, then burn. If I can't convince you that you belong in this world, then I don't know what can. But do not expect me to watch. And don't expect me to mourn for you, because ...
Good character development, good dialogue and an OK plot.
"Amends" is BTVS Christmas Carol episode. The gang is preparing for the holidays and dealing with the fall-out of their love lives. Cordy still won't forgive Xander, Oz and Willow are moving towards being a couple again, and Buffy and Angel are determined to stay apart. Meanwhile, Angel is being haunted by the people he killed. Four ghosts from his past that want to ensure his damnation.
"Amends" highlights Angel's quest for redemption. Angel wants to be forgiven for all the horrible things that he's done. We see his remorse and continuing fear that he'll slip from the righteous path. Angel's desire to redeem his past is at the very core of his character. It motivates him through most of the five season's of "Angel" and influences his decisions, both good and bad. This episode begins his quest to make "amends."
On the downside this is our only real Christmas episode for the series. The more I re-watch this episode the less I like Boreanaz's acting in this.
Gotta love Xander sleeping outside with the plate of cookies for Santa.
Foreshadowing
The First and the Bringers. - season 7
The First tells Angel, "Sooner or later, you will drink her." - "Graduation Day, Part Two".
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - dislike
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
While the gang prepares for their Christmas vacation, Angel is haunted by visions of his violent past. The ghost of Jenny Calendar appears to him and reminds him in great detail of the evil deeds he has performed. At first she almost seems to be taking pity on him, but gradually her counsel grows more sinister.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Buffy: Strong is fighting! It's hard, and it's painful, and it's every day. It's what we have to do. And we can do it together. But if you're too much of a coward for that, then burn. If I can't convince you that you belong in this world, then I don't know what can. But do not expect me to watch. And don't expect me to mourn for you, because ...
Good character development, good dialogue and an OK plot.
"Amends" is BTVS Christmas Carol episode. The gang is preparing for the holidays and dealing with the fall-out of their love lives. Cordy still won't forgive Xander, Oz and Willow are moving towards being a couple again, and Buffy and Angel are determined to stay apart. Meanwhile, Angel is being haunted by the people he killed. Four ghosts from his past that want to ensure his damnation.
"Amends" highlights Angel's quest for redemption. Angel wants to be forgiven for all the horrible things that he's done. We see his remorse and continuing fear that he'll slip from the righteous path. Angel's desire to redeem his past is at the very core of his character. It motivates him through most of the five season's of "Angel" and influences his decisions, both good and bad. This episode begins his quest to make "amends."
On the downside this is our only real Christmas episode for the series. The more I re-watch this episode the less I like Boreanaz's acting in this.
Gotta love Xander sleeping outside with the plate of cookies for Santa.
Foreshadowing
The First and the Bringers. - season 7
The First tells Angel, "Sooner or later, you will drink her." - "Graduation Day, Part Two".
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - dislike
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
The Wish
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Wanting to be rid of Xander for good, Cordelia comes to the conclusion that Buffy is the cause of all her problems and makes a wish that Buffy had never come to Sunnydale. A demon grants the wish and Cordelia's world suddenly changes.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Xander: And they burst in, rescuing us, without even knocking? I mean, this is really all their fault.
Buffy: Your logic does not resemble our Earth logic.
Xander: Mine is much more advanced.
Great character development, good dialogue and an good plot.
This episode has been compared to everything from "It'a A Wonderful Life," and "Mirror, Mirror," to "Psycho."
"It'a A Wonderful Life," what would life be like without you in it?
"Mirror, Mirror," parallel realities.
"Psycho" main narrative character is killed off half way through the movie.
While the audience is able to come away with some insight into the characters, at the end of the episode the show hits the reset button with no one remembering anything, except Anya. This seems kind of trite, but it actually winds up working. We get a different perspective on what Sunnydale would have been like, along with the character interactions that comes from it.
Cordelia's thinks her wish will give her peaceful happy outcome, but it only leads to her death. She is convinced that in a world where she never got close to Xander because of Buffy she'll be happy. We're shown that not only is she not happier she's also certainly not better off, being dead and all. It's unfortunate that at the end of the episode Cordelia is no wiser for her troubles, because these events never happened in the Buffyverse.
The other character in this drama is Buffy. In this wish!verse Buffy is a hardened, cold, humorless, battle scarred and battle weary slayer from Cleveland. She's used to fighting alone in this reality, and she's just one more girl in the long line of slayers to be killed that same way. Just like her predecessors. It seems the prophecy is fulfilled in this reality as well; the Master rises and the Slayer dies. But then the Slayer looked dead (on the inside) already when she got to Sunnydale. The Master just granted her her wish - death.
It seems that both Cordy and Buffy got their wish and got dead. Nice symmetry there.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Anya - neutral
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Wanting to be rid of Xander for good, Cordelia comes to the conclusion that Buffy is the cause of all her problems and makes a wish that Buffy had never come to Sunnydale. A demon grants the wish and Cordelia's world suddenly changes.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Xander: And they burst in, rescuing us, without even knocking? I mean, this is really all their fault.
Buffy: Your logic does not resemble our Earth logic.
Xander: Mine is much more advanced.
Great character development, good dialogue and an good plot.
This episode has been compared to everything from "It'a A Wonderful Life," and "Mirror, Mirror," to "Psycho."
"It'a A Wonderful Life," what would life be like without you in it?
"Mirror, Mirror," parallel realities.
"Psycho" main narrative character is killed off half way through the movie.
While the audience is able to come away with some insight into the characters, at the end of the episode the show hits the reset button with no one remembering anything, except Anya. This seems kind of trite, but it actually winds up working. We get a different perspective on what Sunnydale would have been like, along with the character interactions that comes from it.
Cordelia's thinks her wish will give her peaceful happy outcome, but it only leads to her death. She is convinced that in a world where she never got close to Xander because of Buffy she'll be happy. We're shown that not only is she not happier she's also certainly not better off, being dead and all. It's unfortunate that at the end of the episode Cordelia is no wiser for her troubles, because these events never happened in the Buffyverse.
The other character in this drama is Buffy. In this wish!verse Buffy is a hardened, cold, humorless, battle scarred and battle weary slayer from Cleveland. She's used to fighting alone in this reality, and she's just one more girl in the long line of slayers to be killed that same way. Just like her predecessors. It seems the prophecy is fulfilled in this reality as well; the Master rises and the Slayer dies. But then the Slayer looked dead (on the inside) already when she got to Sunnydale. The Master just granted her her wish - death.
It seems that both Cordy and Buffy got their wish and got dead. Nice symmetry there.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Anya - neutral
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Lovers Walk
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Spike returns to Sunnydale a broken vampire. Drusilla has left him, and he will do anything to win her back, including kidnapping Willow and Xander to force Willow to prepare him a love spell. Will Willow do the spell, or can the Scoobies prepare for tragedy?
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Spike: The last time I looked in on you two, you were fighting to the death. Now you're back to making googly-eyes at each other like nothing happened. Makes me want to heave.
Buffy: I don't know what you're talking about
Spike: Oh, yeah, you're just friends.
Angel: That's right.
Spike: You're not friends. You'll never be friends. You'll be in love 'til it kills you both. You'll fight, and you'll shag, and you'll hate each other 'til it makes you quiver, but you'll never be friends. Love isn't brains, children, it's blood -- blood screaming inside you to work its will. I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it.
Great character development, good dialogue and a good plot.
"Love, is a funny thing" as Spike notes in this episode which is about understanding who you love and what you have to do.
First off, there's Spike. He loves Dru, but Dru has abandoned him. How does he respond, by wallowing in despair, getting drunk, and plotting first revenge and later a love enchantment via witchcraft. Both of these are desperate moves. It's pretty clear Spike just isn't thinking clearly. But love can have that effect.
Spike has changed. He's gone from punk rocker to pathetic loser. Buffy cheerfully points this out to him. But Spike's experiences in Sunnydale have changed him. When he first came here in School Hard, his intention was to kill the Slayer. But he discovered that having Dru was more important to him than anything else and he made a deal with Buffy in order to get Dru. Now, that he's lost Dru, he's back. First he's looking for revenge then he's looking for an easy way to get Dru back. But once again he makes a discovery. He learns that he can't be satisfied unless he wins Dru on his own terms. By convincing her he is once again the man she loves. You can say a lot of things about Spike, but you've got to admit he learns from his experiences. He matures tremendously in this episode and the profound statement about love, that it is in your heart not your head, comes from him.
Next up Willow. She's been consumed with guilt since she and Xander first kissed. But she goes into guilt overdrive when Oz gives her the Pez witch. Like Spike, she wants things to be the way they were. And, like Spike, she decides to resort to magic. Only, instead of a fall in love spell, she needs a anti-love spell. When you come down to it, this is just as silly a idea as Spike's. They both want to rely on magic to solve their problems rather than doing it the hard way. And, like Spike, she can't stick to one idea. At first, she wants to make the anti-love potion. But a few hours later, she's making out with Xander. It isn't until they're discovered, Cordelia almost dies, and Oz just might leave her, that she discovers what she really wants. Now, just as Spike has to convince Dru, she must convince Oz.
Xander, oddly, has been the most consistent character. Always immature, he wants both Willow and Cordelia. When he sees his picture in Cordelia's locker, he's touched. But when Willow suggests the anti-love spell, he's against it. When Cordelia is hurt, he's devastated. It's Xander who runs to her aid. It's Xander who visits her and who's crushed when she tells him to go away.
After Spike, Buffy is probably the character who grows the most in this episode. And it happens thanks to Spike, because of his insight into her relationship with Angel. As she says, she can lie to everyone except herself and Spike. Spike understands what it is to love someone. To be driven by a love so strong, that it consumes and controls your life. And he can see that Buffy and Angel suffer from that same curse. As he says, they can be many things, but they can't just be friends. Buffy finally accepts this and makes a break with Angel.
Most episodes end with the group together doing something. This one ends with everyone alone. And almost all of them unhappy and staring off into space. Buffy on the park bench. Angel in his mansion, sits and mourns. Cordelia cries in her hospital bed. Xander working in the library. Willow sitting on the floor staring at her Pez witch. And Oz with his guitar alone. Only Spike, hurtling down the road smoking and playing the Sid Vicious cover of My Way, is happy. Because he has come to terms with what he needs to do to get his love back.
The Sunnydale sign that Spike knocks down on the way into town gives the population (still) at 38,500. This is the second of three times that he causes the sign to be knocked over.
Foreshadowing
Buffy: And I can fool Giles, and I can fool my friends, but I can't fool myself. (shakes her head) Or Spike, for some reason. - the rest of the series.
Cordelia: Well, I mean that in a positive way. Get out of Sunnydale. That's a good thing. What kind of moron would ever wanna come back here? - she leaves for L.A.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Spike returns to Sunnydale a broken vampire. Drusilla has left him, and he will do anything to win her back, including kidnapping Willow and Xander to force Willow to prepare him a love spell. Will Willow do the spell, or can the Scoobies prepare for tragedy?
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Spike: The last time I looked in on you two, you were fighting to the death. Now you're back to making googly-eyes at each other like nothing happened. Makes me want to heave.
Buffy: I don't know what you're talking about
Spike: Oh, yeah, you're just friends.
Angel: That's right.
Spike: You're not friends. You'll never be friends. You'll be in love 'til it kills you both. You'll fight, and you'll shag, and you'll hate each other 'til it makes you quiver, but you'll never be friends. Love isn't brains, children, it's blood -- blood screaming inside you to work its will. I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it.
Great character development, good dialogue and a good plot.
"Love, is a funny thing" as Spike notes in this episode which is about understanding who you love and what you have to do.
First off, there's Spike. He loves Dru, but Dru has abandoned him. How does he respond, by wallowing in despair, getting drunk, and plotting first revenge and later a love enchantment via witchcraft. Both of these are desperate moves. It's pretty clear Spike just isn't thinking clearly. But love can have that effect.
Spike has changed. He's gone from punk rocker to pathetic loser. Buffy cheerfully points this out to him. But Spike's experiences in Sunnydale have changed him. When he first came here in School Hard, his intention was to kill the Slayer. But he discovered that having Dru was more important to him than anything else and he made a deal with Buffy in order to get Dru. Now, that he's lost Dru, he's back. First he's looking for revenge then he's looking for an easy way to get Dru back. But once again he makes a discovery. He learns that he can't be satisfied unless he wins Dru on his own terms. By convincing her he is once again the man she loves. You can say a lot of things about Spike, but you've got to admit he learns from his experiences. He matures tremendously in this episode and the profound statement about love, that it is in your heart not your head, comes from him.
Next up Willow. She's been consumed with guilt since she and Xander first kissed. But she goes into guilt overdrive when Oz gives her the Pez witch. Like Spike, she wants things to be the way they were. And, like Spike, she decides to resort to magic. Only, instead of a fall in love spell, she needs a anti-love spell. When you come down to it, this is just as silly a idea as Spike's. They both want to rely on magic to solve their problems rather than doing it the hard way. And, like Spike, she can't stick to one idea. At first, she wants to make the anti-love potion. But a few hours later, she's making out with Xander. It isn't until they're discovered, Cordelia almost dies, and Oz just might leave her, that she discovers what she really wants. Now, just as Spike has to convince Dru, she must convince Oz.
Xander, oddly, has been the most consistent character. Always immature, he wants both Willow and Cordelia. When he sees his picture in Cordelia's locker, he's touched. But when Willow suggests the anti-love spell, he's against it. When Cordelia is hurt, he's devastated. It's Xander who runs to her aid. It's Xander who visits her and who's crushed when she tells him to go away.
After Spike, Buffy is probably the character who grows the most in this episode. And it happens thanks to Spike, because of his insight into her relationship with Angel. As she says, she can lie to everyone except herself and Spike. Spike understands what it is to love someone. To be driven by a love so strong, that it consumes and controls your life. And he can see that Buffy and Angel suffer from that same curse. As he says, they can be many things, but they can't just be friends. Buffy finally accepts this and makes a break with Angel.
Most episodes end with the group together doing something. This one ends with everyone alone. And almost all of them unhappy and staring off into space. Buffy on the park bench. Angel in his mansion, sits and mourns. Cordelia cries in her hospital bed. Xander working in the library. Willow sitting on the floor staring at her Pez witch. And Oz with his guitar alone. Only Spike, hurtling down the road smoking and playing the Sid Vicious cover of My Way, is happy. Because he has come to terms with what he needs to do to get his love back.
The Sunnydale sign that Spike knocks down on the way into town gives the population (still) at 38,500. This is the second of three times that he causes the sign to be knocked over.
Foreshadowing
Buffy: And I can fool Giles, and I can fool my friends, but I can't fool myself. (shakes her head) Or Spike, for some reason. - the rest of the series.
Cordelia: Well, I mean that in a positive way. Get out of Sunnydale. That's a good thing. What kind of moron would ever wanna come back here? - she leaves for L.A.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
Revelations
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Xander finds out about Angel's return to Sunnydale and promptly informs the gang who confront Buffy with the fear that he may turn evil again. Meanwhile Faith finds herself under the wing of a new Watcher, Gwendolyn Post, a prim and proper Englishwoman who seems to be intent on showing up Giles at every turn.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Giles: Be quiet. I won't remind you that the fate of the world often lies with the Slayer. What would be the point? Nor shall I remind you that you've jeopardized the lives of all that you hold dear by harboring a known murderer. But sadly, I must remind you that Angel tortured me... for hours... for pleasure. You should have told me he was alive. You didn't. You have no respect for me, or the job I perform.
Great character development, good dialogue and a good plot.
While the title is "Revelations," it's really about about the lies they reveal. Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Gwendolyn all tell lies.
Buffy's lie of omission first. Her lie is what drives this episode. Why does she lie about Angel being back? At first she's confused since he's all feral. She doesn't know if his experience in the demon dimension changed him. I can see why she wants to wait until he's civlized again. But by this episode, she's clear on things. And she realizes how dangerous the situation is by just being near Angel. Their temptation is strong and the two of them seem to lack willpower.
Is Buffy afraid of what her friends will do? I don't think so. Buffy's lie is a sign of her growing maturity. In the past, Buffy has always rushed into things. And this is almost always bad. So now she's changing. She's waiting until she is sure about Angel, about how she feels about him, about what she wants to do about him. And then, when she's ready, she'll tell the others. Unfortunately she doesn't get the chance.
Willow is pretty much the opposite of Buffy. Intellectual where Buffy is physical. Studious where Buffy is playful. Quiet where Buffy is outgoing. Cautious where Buffy is daring. But now she has rushed into something, her relationship with Xander, and for the first time we see her lying to her friends.
Willow's lie is an attempt to avoid facing the truth. While Buffy was waiting, trying to work things out, Willow seems merely to be fighting a delaying action. Until she actually tells someone what has happened, she can continue to believe nothing happened. That it was just a fluke.
Xander's motivation is the most complex and the most serious. Xander hates Angel. And his hatred of Angel is symptomatic of his deeply conflicted feelings. Originally, he disliked Angel because of their competition over Buffy. Since then, he has Cordelia and now is entangled with Willow. For a high school loser, Xander is doing pretty well for himself. But he's also the least mature of these three.
Buffy's response to this problem is to put things on hold while she tries to sort everything out. Willow lies to herself. But Xander moves back to the time when he loved Buffy and hated Angel. So, he tells Faith about Angel.
Now we come to Gwendolyn Post, a one time Watcher who got mixed up in the black arts. Now she seeks power for herself. She engages in a whole of web of lies. She lies to everyone. But her worst lies are to Faith. Faith is in a emotionally fragile state. She is incapable of trusting others. But she does put her faith in Gwendolyn. When Gwendolyn tells her that while she shall be hard in training her, it will make her a better slayer, she believes. When she sees Angel and Gwendolyn fighting, she immediately knows which side to take. When Buffy intervenes, she's willing to fight Buffy to protect her watcher. Then she discovers that Gwendolyn lied.
Buffy's lie almost cost Angel his life. It almost allowed Gwendolyn to get the glove. Willow's lie is causing her distress. Xander's lie almost led to tragedy and is stopping him from dealing with the real issues. Gwendolyn's lie pushed Faith back into the emotional isolation which, through her friendship with Buffy, she had almost escaped. At the end of the episode, we see Faith sitting in her room, watching TV, letting Buffy know that she trusts no one. Not even Buffy. Too hurt, too isolated, to respond to Buffy's attempt at reaching out to her.
On a sidenote, after Faith and Buffy duke it out, they actually look pretty beat up. Buffy has a bruise around her eye and Faith has a swollen lip. While vampires and demons aren't always able to mark up a slayer it appears another slayer can.
Foreshadowing
Buffy and Faith fighting - "Graduation Day part 1"
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Xander finds out about Angel's return to Sunnydale and promptly informs the gang who confront Buffy with the fear that he may turn evil again. Meanwhile Faith finds herself under the wing of a new Watcher, Gwendolyn Post, a prim and proper Englishwoman who seems to be intent on showing up Giles at every turn.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Giles: Be quiet. I won't remind you that the fate of the world often lies with the Slayer. What would be the point? Nor shall I remind you that you've jeopardized the lives of all that you hold dear by harboring a known murderer. But sadly, I must remind you that Angel tortured me... for hours... for pleasure. You should have told me he was alive. You didn't. You have no respect for me, or the job I perform.
Great character development, good dialogue and a good plot.
While the title is "Revelations," it's really about about the lies they reveal. Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Gwendolyn all tell lies.
Buffy's lie of omission first. Her lie is what drives this episode. Why does she lie about Angel being back? At first she's confused since he's all feral. She doesn't know if his experience in the demon dimension changed him. I can see why she wants to wait until he's civlized again. But by this episode, she's clear on things. And she realizes how dangerous the situation is by just being near Angel. Their temptation is strong and the two of them seem to lack willpower.
Is Buffy afraid of what her friends will do? I don't think so. Buffy's lie is a sign of her growing maturity. In the past, Buffy has always rushed into things. And this is almost always bad. So now she's changing. She's waiting until she is sure about Angel, about how she feels about him, about what she wants to do about him. And then, when she's ready, she'll tell the others. Unfortunately she doesn't get the chance.
Willow is pretty much the opposite of Buffy. Intellectual where Buffy is physical. Studious where Buffy is playful. Quiet where Buffy is outgoing. Cautious where Buffy is daring. But now she has rushed into something, her relationship with Xander, and for the first time we see her lying to her friends.
Willow's lie is an attempt to avoid facing the truth. While Buffy was waiting, trying to work things out, Willow seems merely to be fighting a delaying action. Until she actually tells someone what has happened, she can continue to believe nothing happened. That it was just a fluke.
Xander's motivation is the most complex and the most serious. Xander hates Angel. And his hatred of Angel is symptomatic of his deeply conflicted feelings. Originally, he disliked Angel because of their competition over Buffy. Since then, he has Cordelia and now is entangled with Willow. For a high school loser, Xander is doing pretty well for himself. But he's also the least mature of these three.
Buffy's response to this problem is to put things on hold while she tries to sort everything out. Willow lies to herself. But Xander moves back to the time when he loved Buffy and hated Angel. So, he tells Faith about Angel.
Now we come to Gwendolyn Post, a one time Watcher who got mixed up in the black arts. Now she seeks power for herself. She engages in a whole of web of lies. She lies to everyone. But her worst lies are to Faith. Faith is in a emotionally fragile state. She is incapable of trusting others. But she does put her faith in Gwendolyn. When Gwendolyn tells her that while she shall be hard in training her, it will make her a better slayer, she believes. When she sees Angel and Gwendolyn fighting, she immediately knows which side to take. When Buffy intervenes, she's willing to fight Buffy to protect her watcher. Then she discovers that Gwendolyn lied.
Buffy's lie almost cost Angel his life. It almost allowed Gwendolyn to get the glove. Willow's lie is causing her distress. Xander's lie almost led to tragedy and is stopping him from dealing with the real issues. Gwendolyn's lie pushed Faith back into the emotional isolation which, through her friendship with Buffy, she had almost escaped. At the end of the episode, we see Faith sitting in her room, watching TV, letting Buffy know that she trusts no one. Not even Buffy. Too hurt, too isolated, to respond to Buffy's attempt at reaching out to her.
On a sidenote, after Faith and Buffy duke it out, they actually look pretty beat up. Buffy has a bruise around her eye and Faith has a swollen lip. While vampires and demons aren't always able to mark up a slayer it appears another slayer can.
Foreshadowing
Buffy and Faith fighting - "Graduation Day part 1"
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
Band Candy
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Mr. Trick enlists Giles's old buddy Ethan Rayne to manufacture and distribute boxes of candy which turn the adult population into uninhibited, irresponsible teenagers. While the adults are indisposed, the mysterious Mayor Wilkins pays a tribute to a demon.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Buffy: Something's definitely changing them.
Willow: A spell?
Oz: They're teenagers. It's a sobering mirror to look into, huh?
Principal Snyder: [to Oz] You've got great hair.
Good character development, good dialogue and an average plot.
There’s a lot to enjoy in this episode, from the terrific teaser scene in the cemetery ("I'm going with 'B' - we haven't had 'B' in forever") to the sly final exchange (Buffy’s "At least I got to the two of you before you actually did something").
This episode all about responsibility and the theme comes throughout the episode. Giles lecturing Buffy about the SATs, Joyce refusing to let Buffy drive, The Mayor insisting that he has to keep his word to the demon, the children acting MORE responsible as the adults get LESS so, etc... "Band Candy" utilizes the monster-of-the-week (MOTW) format to give us a metaphor for growing up and taking responsibility for our lives. Buffy's becoming an adult. Even when it's not always such a great experience, like having to pay for the damage to her mother's "Geek Machine," she has to start taking charge of her destiny. But while exploring ideas of growing up and taking responsibility, it still manages to be one of the funniest episodes of the season. It also adds another layer to the often complicated Joyce and Giles relationship, which will be referenced again in "Earshot" and season five's "Forever."
Foreshadowing
SAT prep - Buffy will do surprisingly well "Lovers Walk."
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Mr. Trick enlists Giles's old buddy Ethan Rayne to manufacture and distribute boxes of candy which turn the adult population into uninhibited, irresponsible teenagers. While the adults are indisposed, the mysterious Mayor Wilkins pays a tribute to a demon.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Buffy: Something's definitely changing them.
Willow: A spell?
Oz: They're teenagers. It's a sobering mirror to look into, huh?
Principal Snyder: [to Oz] You've got great hair.
Good character development, good dialogue and an average plot.
There’s a lot to enjoy in this episode, from the terrific teaser scene in the cemetery ("I'm going with 'B' - we haven't had 'B' in forever") to the sly final exchange (Buffy’s "At least I got to the two of you before you actually did something").
This episode all about responsibility and the theme comes throughout the episode. Giles lecturing Buffy about the SATs, Joyce refusing to let Buffy drive, The Mayor insisting that he has to keep his word to the demon, the children acting MORE responsible as the adults get LESS so, etc... "Band Candy" utilizes the monster-of-the-week (MOTW) format to give us a metaphor for growing up and taking responsibility for our lives. Buffy's becoming an adult. Even when it's not always such a great experience, like having to pay for the damage to her mother's "Geek Machine," she has to start taking charge of her destiny. But while exploring ideas of growing up and taking responsibility, it still manages to be one of the funniest episodes of the season. It also adds another layer to the often complicated Joyce and Giles relationship, which will be referenced again in "Earshot" and season five's "Forever."
Foreshadowing
SAT prep - Buffy will do surprisingly well "Lovers Walk."
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Homecoming
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
When Cordelia flaunts her sure win for Homecoming Queen it awakens the prom queen within Buffy and the two vie brutally for the title. Meanwhile, the new vampire in town, Mr. Trick, rallies a group of tough vampires, demons and mercenaries together to play a game with the two Slayers... "Slayerfest '98."
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Good character development, OK dialogue and a so-so plot.
Good to see Cordelia's character get developed. The conflict between Cordelia and Buffy isn't really about any contention between the two of them, but about their regret of things they both can't have. Buffy has to deal with her destiny. She's the slayer and the weight of the world rests on her shoulders. Cordelia has no responsibility at all. She spends her life looking good and buying nice clothes. Not surprisingly, both want what the other has. By running for homecoming queen, Buffy tries to get some of the glamour and popularity that come so easily to Cordelia. And by scaring off the vampire, Cordelia demonstrates that she has some of the qualities that make a slayer. The conflict ends not because they've won, but because they've shown the qualities to compete in each other's worlds.
Meanwhile, two others who want what somebody else has: Willow and Xander. They want each other, but they are with Oz and Cordelia. And it's no accident that Cordelia tells Buffy she loves Xander. We get that insight so we can understand what's at stake. If Xander and Willow leave Cordelia and Oz, two people will be badly hurt. For all their reserved attitude, Cordelia and Oz really love Xander and Willow. And we know how bad it is being dumped. Buffy got dumped just this episode and, while she hasn't been going with Scott for long, it's still painful.
Willow and Xander realize their mutual attraction while dressing for the homecoming dance. This might the first time these childhood friends see each other as adults.The fluke (as Willow calls it) happens. And it has consequences. They overcompensate in helping Cordelia. This then leads to them arranging for Buffy and Cordelia to ride to the dance together. Which then leads to the confrontation of Slayerfest '98.
I know many fans believe Willow and Xander should get together. I don't. They've been such close friends for so long that I don't think they would get together at this point. That might just be me.
Finally, though we get to meet the mayor. He has been a shadowy and mysterious figure for some time now. It's good to have some of the mystery revealed. His introduction in this episode is an important glimpse of things to come. And he's basically telling Mr. Trick, the current vampire leader, that he is now working for/with him.
While consequences are handled quite well in the Buffyverse the ending doesn't seem to have any consequences. Buffy deliberately (albeit indirectly) kills "normal" humans as she manipulates the Gruenstahler brothers into shooting each other. Did they just then leave and let school maintenance and Snyder clean up the homicide? Just a small nitpick I have.
Foreshadowing
Buffy's wish for a perfect moment in high school will be granted in "The Prom".
Faith: Come on. We'll find a couple studs, we'll use 'em and... discard 'em. That's always fun. - Xander in "The Zeppo"
Mayor Wilkins: You have all my faith. - Faith later in the season.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this an average episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
When Cordelia flaunts her sure win for Homecoming Queen it awakens the prom queen within Buffy and the two vie brutally for the title. Meanwhile, the new vampire in town, Mr. Trick, rallies a group of tough vampires, demons and mercenaries together to play a game with the two Slayers... "Slayerfest '98."
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
| Trick: | Faith... Buffy... Have a nice death. |
| Cordelia: | Hello! How stupid are you people? She's a Slayer. I'm a Homecoming Queen! |
Good character development, OK dialogue and a so-so plot.
Good to see Cordelia's character get developed. The conflict between Cordelia and Buffy isn't really about any contention between the two of them, but about their regret of things they both can't have. Buffy has to deal with her destiny. She's the slayer and the weight of the world rests on her shoulders. Cordelia has no responsibility at all. She spends her life looking good and buying nice clothes. Not surprisingly, both want what the other has. By running for homecoming queen, Buffy tries to get some of the glamour and popularity that come so easily to Cordelia. And by scaring off the vampire, Cordelia demonstrates that she has some of the qualities that make a slayer. The conflict ends not because they've won, but because they've shown the qualities to compete in each other's worlds.
Meanwhile, two others who want what somebody else has: Willow and Xander. They want each other, but they are with Oz and Cordelia. And it's no accident that Cordelia tells Buffy she loves Xander. We get that insight so we can understand what's at stake. If Xander and Willow leave Cordelia and Oz, two people will be badly hurt. For all their reserved attitude, Cordelia and Oz really love Xander and Willow. And we know how bad it is being dumped. Buffy got dumped just this episode and, while she hasn't been going with Scott for long, it's still painful.
Willow and Xander realize their mutual attraction while dressing for the homecoming dance. This might the first time these childhood friends see each other as adults.The fluke (as Willow calls it) happens. And it has consequences. They overcompensate in helping Cordelia. This then leads to them arranging for Buffy and Cordelia to ride to the dance together. Which then leads to the confrontation of Slayerfest '98.
I know many fans believe Willow and Xander should get together. I don't. They've been such close friends for so long that I don't think they would get together at this point. That might just be me.
Finally, though we get to meet the mayor. He has been a shadowy and mysterious figure for some time now. It's good to have some of the mystery revealed. His introduction in this episode is an important glimpse of things to come. And he's basically telling Mr. Trick, the current vampire leader, that he is now working for/with him.
While consequences are handled quite well in the Buffyverse the ending doesn't seem to have any consequences. Buffy deliberately (albeit indirectly) kills "normal" humans as she manipulates the Gruenstahler brothers into shooting each other. Did they just then leave and let school maintenance and Snyder clean up the homicide? Just a small nitpick I have.
Foreshadowing
Buffy's wish for a perfect moment in high school will be granted in "The Prom".
Faith: Come on. We'll find a couple studs, we'll use 'em and... discard 'em. That's always fun. - Xander in "The Zeppo"
Mayor Wilkins: You have all my faith. - Faith later in the season.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this an average episode compared to the rest of the season.
Beauty and the Beasts
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
On the night of a full moon a student is found savagely mauled in the woods, and the gang worry that Oz may have escaped from his cage. However, Buffy discovers that Angel has somehow escaped Acathla's hell dimension and returned to Earth. Because time moves differently in hell, he has had to endure a century of torture and is now little more than a wild animal. Now Buffy must find a way to tell the gang that Oz may be innocent and to keep them from killing Angel.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Faith: [about Scott] But you like him. When you think about him you get that good, down-low tickle, right?
Buffy: Yeah, I guess... how low?
Faith: You tell me!
Good character development, OK dialogue and an OK plot.
Monsters/beasts abound in this episode. Oz, Angel and the MOTW Pete. I'm refraining from going down that whole abusive boyfriend metaphor in this episode, since it's pretty self explanatory. We all have the beast within us, but its how choose to deal with it that defines us. Oz is in his infancy stage as a werewolf and cannot control the animal within. So he turns control over to others. Angel, in his non-feral state, can control himself, and by the end of the episode regains a portion of that control. Pete doesn't want to control himself and turns over control to the beast.
Its interesting that both other beasts fight the out of control monster before the end of the episode. Oz fights Pete to save himself with some degree of success. But its Angel who conquers the beast, both inner and outer by the end of the episode.
I liked the whole Call of the Wild quotes bookending this episode. The opener is about the tame animal feeling the wild urges within. The end quotes appropriately shows the integration of instinct with civilization, and how to live with both worlds in balance.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this an average episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
On the night of a full moon a student is found savagely mauled in the woods, and the gang worry that Oz may have escaped from his cage. However, Buffy discovers that Angel has somehow escaped Acathla's hell dimension and returned to Earth. Because time moves differently in hell, he has had to endure a century of torture and is now little more than a wild animal. Now Buffy must find a way to tell the gang that Oz may be innocent and to keep them from killing Angel.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Faith: [about Scott] But you like him. When you think about him you get that good, down-low tickle, right?
Buffy: Yeah, I guess... how low?
Faith: You tell me!
Good character development, OK dialogue and an OK plot.
Monsters/beasts abound in this episode. Oz, Angel and the MOTW Pete. I'm refraining from going down that whole abusive boyfriend metaphor in this episode, since it's pretty self explanatory. We all have the beast within us, but its how choose to deal with it that defines us. Oz is in his infancy stage as a werewolf and cannot control the animal within. So he turns control over to others. Angel, in his non-feral state, can control himself, and by the end of the episode regains a portion of that control. Pete doesn't want to control himself and turns over control to the beast.
Its interesting that both other beasts fight the out of control monster before the end of the episode. Oz fights Pete to save himself with some degree of success. But its Angel who conquers the beast, both inner and outer by the end of the episode.
I liked the whole Call of the Wild quotes bookending this episode. The opener is about the tame animal feeling the wild urges within. The end quotes appropriately shows the integration of instinct with civilization, and how to live with both worlds in balance.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this an average episode compared to the rest of the season.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Faith, Hope and Trick
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
A new Slayer arrives in town. Faith, who was called after Kendra died,
seems like a fun-loving, wacky teenager who fits right in with the gang.
Buffy worries that Faith may be taking her place in her friends hearts,
and then begins to suspect that the new Slayer may be hiding something.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Faith: Ain't it crazy how slaying just always makes you hungry and horny?
[Xander, Cordy, Willow & Oz all look at Buffy for confirmation]
Buffy: Well... sometimes I crave a non-fat yogurt after.
Good character development, good dialogue and a good plot.
Buffy begins the process of getting over Angel here, and that's not going to be easy. When Willow tries to set her up with Scott Hope, a quite, nice guy, she's reluctant to go along. She's still dreaming about Angel. And she's got more problems as Faith shows up. There must be something about slayers that makes them dislike each other. First Kendra and now Faith immediately rub Buffy the wrong way. True, Buffy does establish a relationship with both of them, but in the beginning there is no love lost. For someone who outwardly claims to hate the role of Slayer, Buffy sure is eager to hold onto it, and keep it all to herself.
The Slayers seem to come in a variety of packages. Kendra was painfully shy. Faith is about as outgoing as you can get. All of which makes Buffy look pretty normal. She's managed to stay relatively balanced while holding down the role of Slayer. Something no one else we've seen seems capable of.
As a MOTW, Kakistos is a big let down. He's supposed to be an enormously powerful vampire, but it doesn't take much to stop him. But Kakistos only exists as a plot contrivance, so Faith can come to Sunnydale and she and Buffy can bond. It also gives Mrs. Summers a chance to meet another Slayer and learn that Buffy temporarily died, adding to her overall anxiety.
For all of her other problems, Buffy has avoided the two problems which Kendra and Faith have not. She didn't get killed (permanently) and she didn't panic. I guess Giles is doing a good job as her watcher. And caring for his charge is at the center of this episode. He persistently nags Buffy about what happened when she sent Angel to the demon dimension. As we learn by the end of the episode, there is no spell. Giles has been doing this only because he knew something was troubling Buffy. And it is only after unburdening herself that Buffy can finally let go of her guilt and of Angel. She says yes to Scott Hope and returns the ring that Angel gave her. If Buffy is a great slayer, it's because Giles is a great watcher. And like her, he feels a little left out - he doesn't get invited to the watcher retreat. But his success lies in treating Buffy as a complete person, worrying about her mental and emotional well being, as much as her physical training.
Buffy asks Faith if she's hungry after slaying Kakistos, indicating that they share similarities. This is confirmed in later seasons, when Dawn mentions that the first place Buffy goes after slaying is the refrigerator.
Buffy begins an ill fated relationship with Scott. This relationship ends in just two episodes, in "Homecoming", where Scott tells Buffy she isn't that exciting anymore. In "Conversations with Dead People," Holden Webster remarks that Scott "came out last year".
Foreshadowing
Xander's infatuation with Faith. - The Zeppo
Buffy feels as if Faith is taking her (Buffy's) life, a theme explored further in Season 7, particularly the episodes "Empty Places", and "Touched". It also foreshadows Season 4 episodes "This Year's Girl" and "Who Are You."
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
A new Slayer arrives in town. Faith, who was called after Kendra died,
seems like a fun-loving, wacky teenager who fits right in with the gang.
Buffy worries that Faith may be taking her place in her friends hearts,
and then begins to suspect that the new Slayer may be hiding something.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Faith: Ain't it crazy how slaying just always makes you hungry and horny?
[Xander, Cordy, Willow & Oz all look at Buffy for confirmation]
Buffy: Well... sometimes I crave a non-fat yogurt after.
Good character development, good dialogue and a good plot.
Buffy begins the process of getting over Angel here, and that's not going to be easy. When Willow tries to set her up with Scott Hope, a quite, nice guy, she's reluctant to go along. She's still dreaming about Angel. And she's got more problems as Faith shows up. There must be something about slayers that makes them dislike each other. First Kendra and now Faith immediately rub Buffy the wrong way. True, Buffy does establish a relationship with both of them, but in the beginning there is no love lost. For someone who outwardly claims to hate the role of Slayer, Buffy sure is eager to hold onto it, and keep it all to herself.
The Slayers seem to come in a variety of packages. Kendra was painfully shy. Faith is about as outgoing as you can get. All of which makes Buffy look pretty normal. She's managed to stay relatively balanced while holding down the role of Slayer. Something no one else we've seen seems capable of.
As a MOTW, Kakistos is a big let down. He's supposed to be an enormously powerful vampire, but it doesn't take much to stop him. But Kakistos only exists as a plot contrivance, so Faith can come to Sunnydale and she and Buffy can bond. It also gives Mrs. Summers a chance to meet another Slayer and learn that Buffy temporarily died, adding to her overall anxiety.
For all of her other problems, Buffy has avoided the two problems which Kendra and Faith have not. She didn't get killed (permanently) and she didn't panic. I guess Giles is doing a good job as her watcher. And caring for his charge is at the center of this episode. He persistently nags Buffy about what happened when she sent Angel to the demon dimension. As we learn by the end of the episode, there is no spell. Giles has been doing this only because he knew something was troubling Buffy. And it is only after unburdening herself that Buffy can finally let go of her guilt and of Angel. She says yes to Scott Hope and returns the ring that Angel gave her. If Buffy is a great slayer, it's because Giles is a great watcher. And like her, he feels a little left out - he doesn't get invited to the watcher retreat. But his success lies in treating Buffy as a complete person, worrying about her mental and emotional well being, as much as her physical training.
Buffy asks Faith if she's hungry after slaying Kakistos, indicating that they share similarities. This is confirmed in later seasons, when Dawn mentions that the first place Buffy goes after slaying is the refrigerator.
Buffy begins an ill fated relationship with Scott. This relationship ends in just two episodes, in "Homecoming", where Scott tells Buffy she isn't that exciting anymore. In "Conversations with Dead People," Holden Webster remarks that Scott "came out last year".
Foreshadowing
Xander's infatuation with Faith. - The Zeppo
Buffy feels as if Faith is taking her (Buffy's) life, a theme explored further in Season 7, particularly the episodes "Empty Places", and "Touched". It also foreshadows Season 4 episodes "This Year's Girl" and "Who Are You."
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
Dead Man's Party
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Buffy returns home, but finds that picking up the pieces of the life she left behind may not be as easy as she had hoped. Her mother is trying to accept her back with open arms, but she doesn't seem to trust that Buffy won't just run away again. Her friends seem happy to see her, but their odd behavior makes it appear that they silently resent Buffy for taking off. And, of course, before these problems can be laid to rest, the dead of Sunnydale start to rise.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Oz: Well, a gathering is brie, mellow song stylings; shindig, dip, less mellow song stylings, perhaps a large amount of malt beverage; and hootenanny, well, it's chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny.
OK character development, average dialogue and a so-so plot.
While Buffy finds it easy to face monsters and demons, she doesn't really find it at all easy to face up to her friends and how they feel. It's much easier to deal with clear cut conflicts between good and evil and with externalized enemies. But Buffy is forced to recognize that evil exists even within the best people - even Willow is less than kind and many of the things said during the argument are cruel. And the toughest enemies sometimes are the ones you don't see.
While everyone is apparently a lot happier by the end of this episode, many of the problems really aren't resolved. The fact that they all work as a team to destroy the zombies says something about the strength of their friendship. It also reassures Buffy's mom who realizes her daughter is not truly alone in her battle against demons. Plus it also gives Buffy's friends a chance to show what they can do and to accept Buffy back in her role as Slayer.
Foreshadowing
Buffy: (to Xander) Didn't anyone ever warn you about playing with pointy sticks? It's all fun and games until somebody loses an eye.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a poor episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Buffy returns home, but finds that picking up the pieces of the life she left behind may not be as easy as she had hoped. Her mother is trying to accept her back with open arms, but she doesn't seem to trust that Buffy won't just run away again. Her friends seem happy to see her, but their odd behavior makes it appear that they silently resent Buffy for taking off. And, of course, before these problems can be laid to rest, the dead of Sunnydale start to rise.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Oz: Well, a gathering is brie, mellow song stylings; shindig, dip, less mellow song stylings, perhaps a large amount of malt beverage; and hootenanny, well, it's chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny.
OK character development, average dialogue and a so-so plot.
While Buffy finds it easy to face monsters and demons, she doesn't really find it at all easy to face up to her friends and how they feel. It's much easier to deal with clear cut conflicts between good and evil and with externalized enemies. But Buffy is forced to recognize that evil exists even within the best people - even Willow is less than kind and many of the things said during the argument are cruel. And the toughest enemies sometimes are the ones you don't see.
While everyone is apparently a lot happier by the end of this episode, many of the problems really aren't resolved. The fact that they all work as a team to destroy the zombies says something about the strength of their friendship. It also reassures Buffy's mom who realizes her daughter is not truly alone in her battle against demons. Plus it also gives Buffy's friends a chance to show what they can do and to accept Buffy back in her role as Slayer.
Foreshadowing
Buffy: (to Xander) Didn't anyone ever warn you about playing with pointy sticks? It's all fun and games until somebody loses an eye.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a poor episode compared to the rest of the season.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Anne
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
It is the end of summer vacation, and Buffy is still missing. Willow, Xander, Oz, and Cordelia are attempting to keep the Sunnydale vampire population in check during Buffy's absence... with only moderate success. They miss having the Slayer around, but more than that they miss their friend. Meanwhile, Buffy has been working as a waitress in L.A., going by her middle name, Anne, and trying to forget her old life. But of course, someone always needs the Slayer's help...
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Guard: Who are you?
Buffy: (perky) I'm Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. And you are?
Good character development, average dialogue and a good plot.
Buffy has truly run off. But she isn't your average runaway. She has a job and is supporting herself. Not in luxury, but not too shabbily. She isn't fleeing responsibility, she's fleeing her fate. She just doesn't want carry the burden of being the Slayer any more, aside from all of the emotional turmoil with getting kicked out of school and her home. Not to mention the trauma of having to kill your re-ensouled boyfriend to save the world.
But life is just never that easy. How far do you have to run to lose yourself? For Buffy it obviously wasn't far enough. When a man is about to be run over by a car, she saves him. When asked for help by Lily, she gives it. When she is in the demon dimension the demons force everyone to say they are nobody. They attempt to squash everyone's individuality. The demon guard walks down the line of workers, striking everyone who doesn't deny their identity. When he comes to Buffy and asks who she is, she says "I'm Buffy the Vampire Slayer". This is her recognizing and accepting herself, and that part of her core identity. It's the acceptance of the fact that she didn't become the Slayer, but that she always was one. Being the Slayer isn't just a matter of being strong, it's a matter of empathy and the responsibility to set things right. Like a lot of teenagers, Buffy is searching for herself, and in this climactic moment she accepts her nature, a major part of which is the Slayer heritage.
All of which sheds some light on the confrontation between Giles and Buffy's mother. She blames Giles for Buffy's runaway status. From her point of view, Giles turned her daughter into the Slayer. But that really isn't the case. Giles is merely trying to help Buffy come to grips with her identity, not force it upon her. When Buffy finally does come to grips with herself as both Buffy and Slayer, that realization enables her to defeat the demonic forces of despair and return home.
Buffy in the past has faced demons and monsters of various sorts. Here, she deals with a real world problem. Giving into despair. We know Buffy came close to doing this. And we know it happens all the time in the real world. Luckily Buffy is able to overcome her loss of self and get back to Sunnydale.
Identity really is at the core of this episode. Buffy tries to abandon her Slayer identity. She becomes Anne. But when the chips are down, she realizes that Buffy is who she really is. And Chanterelle/Lily whom she befriends, now adopts the Anne persona. Unlike Buffy, she's still searching to find herself. And I find it heartening that this is the persona she sticks with and goes on to help others on Angel the Series.
A bit of a communist side theme here, we get the great fight scene with Buffy wielding the hammer and sickle.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
It is the end of summer vacation, and Buffy is still missing. Willow, Xander, Oz, and Cordelia are attempting to keep the Sunnydale vampire population in check during Buffy's absence... with only moderate success. They miss having the Slayer around, but more than that they miss their friend. Meanwhile, Buffy has been working as a waitress in L.A., going by her middle name, Anne, and trying to forget her old life. But of course, someone always needs the Slayer's help...
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Guard: Who are you?
Buffy: (perky) I'm Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. And you are?
Good character development, average dialogue and a good plot.
Buffy has truly run off. But she isn't your average runaway. She has a job and is supporting herself. Not in luxury, but not too shabbily. She isn't fleeing responsibility, she's fleeing her fate. She just doesn't want carry the burden of being the Slayer any more, aside from all of the emotional turmoil with getting kicked out of school and her home. Not to mention the trauma of having to kill your re-ensouled boyfriend to save the world.
But life is just never that easy. How far do you have to run to lose yourself? For Buffy it obviously wasn't far enough. When a man is about to be run over by a car, she saves him. When asked for help by Lily, she gives it. When she is in the demon dimension the demons force everyone to say they are nobody. They attempt to squash everyone's individuality. The demon guard walks down the line of workers, striking everyone who doesn't deny their identity. When he comes to Buffy and asks who she is, she says "I'm Buffy the Vampire Slayer". This is her recognizing and accepting herself, and that part of her core identity. It's the acceptance of the fact that she didn't become the Slayer, but that she always was one. Being the Slayer isn't just a matter of being strong, it's a matter of empathy and the responsibility to set things right. Like a lot of teenagers, Buffy is searching for herself, and in this climactic moment she accepts her nature, a major part of which is the Slayer heritage.
All of which sheds some light on the confrontation between Giles and Buffy's mother. She blames Giles for Buffy's runaway status. From her point of view, Giles turned her daughter into the Slayer. But that really isn't the case. Giles is merely trying to help Buffy come to grips with her identity, not force it upon her. When Buffy finally does come to grips with herself as both Buffy and Slayer, that realization enables her to defeat the demonic forces of despair and return home.
Buffy in the past has faced demons and monsters of various sorts. Here, she deals with a real world problem. Giving into despair. We know Buffy came close to doing this. And we know it happens all the time in the real world. Luckily Buffy is able to overcome her loss of self and get back to Sunnydale.
Identity really is at the core of this episode. Buffy tries to abandon her Slayer identity. She becomes Anne. But when the chips are down, she realizes that Buffy is who she really is. And Chanterelle/Lily whom she befriends, now adopts the Anne persona. Unlike Buffy, she's still searching to find herself. And I find it heartening that this is the persona she sticks with and goes on to help others on Angel the Series.
A bit of a communist side theme here, we get the great fight scene with Buffy wielding the hammer and sickle.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
Buffy Season 2 - Current Views & Ranking
01. When She Was Bad
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - understandable
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Angel - neutral
02. Some Assembly Required
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Angel - neutral
03. School Hard
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
04. Inca Mummy Girl
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - neutral
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - absent
Oz - like
05. Reptile Boy
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - neutral
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
06. Halloween
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
07. Lie to Me
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
08. The Dark Age
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
09. What's My Line? pt. 1
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
10. What's My Line? pt. 2
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
11. Ted
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - absent
12. Bad Eggs
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - absent
13. Surprise
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
14. Innocence
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel/us - like
Oz - like
15. Phases
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel/us - like
Oz - like
16. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel/us - like
Oz - like
17. Passion
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel/us - like
Oz - absent
18. Killed by Death
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel/us - like
Oz - absent
19. I Only Have Eyes For You
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel/us - like
Oz - absent
20. Go Fish
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel/us - like
Oz - absent
21. Becoming Part 1
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel/us - like
Oz - like
22. Becoming Part 2
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel/us - like
Oz - like
Overall Ranking
Very Good
Becoming Part 2
Becoming Part 1
Innocence
Surprise
School Hard
Halloween
Good
Passion
I Only Have Eyes For You
When She Was Bad
Lie to Me
Ted
Phases
Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered
Average
Inca Mummy Girl
The Dark Age
What's My Line? pt. 1
What's My Line? pt. 2
Go Fish
Poor
Some Assembly Required
Reptile Boy
Killed by Death
Very Poor
Bad Eggs
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - understandable
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Angel - neutral
02. Some Assembly Required
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Angel - neutral
03. School Hard
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
04. Inca Mummy Girl
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - neutral
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - absent
Oz - like
05. Reptile Boy
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - neutral
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
06. Halloween
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
07. Lie to Me
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
08. The Dark Age
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
09. What's My Line? pt. 1
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
10. What's My Line? pt. 2
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
11. Ted
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - absent
12. Bad Eggs
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - absent
13. Surprise
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
14. Innocence
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel/us - like
Oz - like
15. Phases
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel/us - like
Oz - like
16. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel/us - like
Oz - like
17. Passion
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel/us - like
Oz - absent
18. Killed by Death
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel/us - like
Oz - absent
19. I Only Have Eyes For You
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel/us - like
Oz - absent
20. Go Fish
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel/us - like
Oz - absent
21. Becoming Part 1
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel/us - like
Oz - like
22. Becoming Part 2
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel/us - like
Oz - like
Overall Ranking
Very Good
Becoming Part 2
Becoming Part 1
Innocence
Surprise
School Hard
Halloween
Good
Passion
I Only Have Eyes For You
When She Was Bad
Lie to Me
Ted
Phases
Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered
Average
Inca Mummy Girl
The Dark Age
What's My Line? pt. 1
What's My Line? pt. 2
Go Fish
Poor
Some Assembly Required
Reptile Boy
Killed by Death
Very Poor
Bad Eggs
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Becoming Part 2
These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Buffy arrives too late to save Kendra from Drusilla's surprise attack, and ends up being arrested for Kendra's murder. Escaping from the police, she goes to the hospital to find that Willow is comatose and unable to complete the spell to restore Angel's soul. She also learns that Drusilla took Giles, and heads out to rescue him and stop Angelus once and for all with the help of a most unlikely ally.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Angelus: No weapons, no friends, no hope. Take all that away, and what's left?
Buffy: Me.
Great character development, great dialogue and a great plot.
"Becoming Part Two" is not only brilliant in and of itself, it also plays a vital role in the rest of the series. This is the episode that redefines Angel and Buffy's relationship, starts bringing Spike to the good-side, shows the start of Willow's power, paves the way to a new Slayer for next season and has Joyce finally seeing the truth about Buffy's calling.
The whole shows premise of subverting stereotypes reals cranks into high gear here. Just the fact that it's turned the hero into the villain (Angel/us), and the villain into the hero (Spike) in a believable way should tell you what's in store from here on out. Spike's love for Drusilla and his enjoyment of the mortal world, has him joining the white hats, a side that he'll find himself on more and more as time goes by. His entire scene with Buffy is pivotal. The two of them eye each other suspiciously, trade blows and insults, but within moments they're sort of...trusting each other. It sets the stage for their entire relationship.
The title "Becoming," in "Part One" was referring to Angel. In "Part Two" it refers to Buffy. This is the episode that changes her forever. In a way, it burns away the last of her childhood and makes her the person she will "become." Strangely, she's able to make the toughest call of her life thus far, in this episode. She sacrifices Angel to save the world, but her faith in goodness and in right, never completely recovers. Under similar circumstances in season three's "Choices," season five's "The Gift," and even season seven's "Lies My Parents Told Me," Buffy chooses to risk an apocalypse rather than sacrifice people she loves. She's "become" a stronger Slayer, but she's also lost her innocent belief in a white and black world. Things are much grayer from now on.
From a different review. The scenes between Spike & Buffy are packed with some great dialogue and foreshadowing. The season-long parallels drawn between the two are reinforced when Whistler tells Buffy: "You’re all you’ve got" and the very next scene features Spike telling Buffy, "I’m all you’ve got." They are each other’s counterparts, and that pays off in the clinch:
Then we finally say hello to the pain. It isn’t only Angel who finds that he must spill his own blood – not someone else’s – to achieve his goals. No pain, no gain. You want something from this world? Then, as Whistler asks Buffy: "What are you prepared to give up?" Because the world? It asks for blood. Your blood. Willow, Spike, Giles and Buffy literally bleed in this episode. Figuratively, they all do. They save the world, but it costs them.
And it costs no one more than it costs Buffy. In the end, with Spike gone, she is, indeed, all she’s got. And she faces an emotionally excruciating decision: Should she send her beloved boyfriend to hell alone, or should she let us all go along for the ride? True, it’s a no-brainer. But she’s not struggling with her brain; it’s her heart that is crying out for mercy. But our hero does the right thing. Buffy skewers Angel, and sends him right to hell. Buffy has lost everything. And when Buffy, a teenage girl with an idealized love in whom she invested all of her identity – loses Angel, she loses the one thing she had left in the end: herself.
The third appearance of the sad/depressed overalls.
Foreshadowing
Spike: I want to save the world.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel/us - like
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
----------------------------recap-------------------------------
Buffy arrives too late to save Kendra from Drusilla's surprise attack, and ends up being arrested for Kendra's murder. Escaping from the police, she goes to the hospital to find that Willow is comatose and unable to complete the spell to restore Angel's soul. She also learns that Drusilla took Giles, and heads out to rescue him and stop Angelus once and for all with the help of a most unlikely ally.
--------------------------end recap--------------------------
Angelus: No weapons, no friends, no hope. Take all that away, and what's left?
Buffy: Me.
Great character development, great dialogue and a great plot.
"Becoming Part Two" is not only brilliant in and of itself, it also plays a vital role in the rest of the series. This is the episode that redefines Angel and Buffy's relationship, starts bringing Spike to the good-side, shows the start of Willow's power, paves the way to a new Slayer for next season and has Joyce finally seeing the truth about Buffy's calling.
The whole shows premise of subverting stereotypes reals cranks into high gear here. Just the fact that it's turned the hero into the villain (Angel/us), and the villain into the hero (Spike) in a believable way should tell you what's in store from here on out. Spike's love for Drusilla and his enjoyment of the mortal world, has him joining the white hats, a side that he'll find himself on more and more as time goes by. His entire scene with Buffy is pivotal. The two of them eye each other suspiciously, trade blows and insults, but within moments they're sort of...trusting each other. It sets the stage for their entire relationship.
The title "Becoming," in "Part One" was referring to Angel. In "Part Two" it refers to Buffy. This is the episode that changes her forever. In a way, it burns away the last of her childhood and makes her the person she will "become." Strangely, she's able to make the toughest call of her life thus far, in this episode. She sacrifices Angel to save the world, but her faith in goodness and in right, never completely recovers. Under similar circumstances in season three's "Choices," season five's "The Gift," and even season seven's "Lies My Parents Told Me," Buffy chooses to risk an apocalypse rather than sacrifice people she loves. She's "become" a stronger Slayer, but she's also lost her innocent belief in a white and black world. Things are much grayer from now on.
From a different review. The scenes between Spike & Buffy are packed with some great dialogue and foreshadowing. The season-long parallels drawn between the two are reinforced when Whistler tells Buffy: "You’re all you’ve got" and the very next scene features Spike telling Buffy, "I’m all you’ve got." They are each other’s counterparts, and that pays off in the clinch:
- Spike knows exactly how to get past Buffy’s initial reluctance to listen: "He’s got your Watcher. Right now, he’s probably torturing him."
- Buffy has Spike’s number immediately: "You want my help because your girlfriend’s a big ‘ho’?" They literally pull no punches.
- All Buffy has to do is clear her throat, and Spike realizes he shouldn’t kill the cop if he wants Buffy’s help. Later, all she has to do is look at him, and he understands that Kendra’s death was not a good thing "from her perspective."
- Spike catches on instantly to what is happening between Buffy and Joyce ("What? Your mother doesn’t know?"), and they lie to Joyce in tandem.
- Though they have never fought as a team before, they confront and dispatch Angel’s vampire lackey like a well-oiled machine. Wham, bam - I’ll be damned. They’ve got rhythm.
- In a style we’ll see repeated, they quickly negotiate the terms of their agreement, reaching simultaneous satisfaction in no time flat. No need for any fancy pre-show, they just smack each other around a few times, and then get right down to the nuts and bolts.
Then we finally say hello to the pain. It isn’t only Angel who finds that he must spill his own blood – not someone else’s – to achieve his goals. No pain, no gain. You want something from this world? Then, as Whistler asks Buffy: "What are you prepared to give up?" Because the world? It asks for blood. Your blood. Willow, Spike, Giles and Buffy literally bleed in this episode. Figuratively, they all do. They save the world, but it costs them.
And it costs no one more than it costs Buffy. In the end, with Spike gone, she is, indeed, all she’s got. And she faces an emotionally excruciating decision: Should she send her beloved boyfriend to hell alone, or should she let us all go along for the ride? True, it’s a no-brainer. But she’s not struggling with her brain; it’s her heart that is crying out for mercy. But our hero does the right thing. Buffy skewers Angel, and sends him right to hell. Buffy has lost everything. And when Buffy, a teenage girl with an idealized love in whom she invested all of her identity – loses Angel, she loses the one thing she had left in the end: herself.
The third appearance of the sad/depressed overalls.
Foreshadowing
Spike: I want to save the world.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel/us - like
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.
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